When I was a little girl, there was this TV show I loved.
One of the characters, a sweet, friendly girl, always wore the most beautiful yellow sandals. I adored her. And I wanted to be just like her.
So, I asked my parents if they could buy me a pair.
They took me to the only shoe shop in our small town… but there were no yellow sandals.
I was so disappointed... I wanted them badly.
I asked my mum if she could buy me a piece of yellow fabric and some sponges so I could make my own sandals.
And she did.
She helped me measure my feet and cut the fabric to size. I stitched them together, proudly slipped them on, and admired how beautiful they looked.
They lasted only a couple of hours before they started falling apart… but that didn’t matter.
For those two hours, I had exactly what I dreamed of.
Since I can remember, if I wanted something, I found a way to get it or create it myself. And my parents always encouraged me.
I made my own board games when I couldn’t afford to buy one.
I sewed my own clothes.
I made my own notebooks...
And now, looking at LearnPedia Australia, I realise that same spirit has never left me.
I couldn’t accept the status quo that migrant and graduate engineers should struggle to find their first job in the field just because “that’s how it is here.” It baffled me from the very start.
Why weren’t they being trained for real-life projects? The sort of projects they’ll work on in the field, day in, day out!
So, just like with the yellow sandals, I took matters into my own hands at LearnPedia Australia.
Thank you, Mum, for teaching me that if I want something, I can create it and for giving me the courage to do so.
I’ve seen lives change at LearnPedia Australia. I’ve met people who were on the edge of giving up on their profession, people who came here on skilled visas but couldn’t find their place, and now, they’re working in their field.
And what greater joy or pride could there be than helping others rise, and doing good for our country and our society? 🩵
Blue Skies,
Moly Ashtari
