Graduate Trevor Leslie has faced some significant challenges in his career and study journey, but he hasn’t let them stop him.
Trevor started working at 15 years old. His first job was as a steel fixer and concreter. He was offered a plumbing apprenticeship at the age of 17 and jumped at the opportunity to complete his apprenticeship in Melbourne.
“Dad had always drilled into me you can’t go wrong with a trade,” says Trevor.
After finishing his apprenticeship, Trevor took off to Western Australia to work in the mines. Eventually, he moved back to New Zealand where he continued with his plumbing and drainage career.
He was just about to start his own company when he suffered an injury to his back and a broken wrist. The wrist injury ended up being Kienböck's disease – a condition where the blood supply is interrupted. Trevor had to be in a cast for one and a half years.
“My plumbing career was over as a one-handed plumber was no good to anybody.”
Trevor ended up on ACC and was at the Whangarei District Council collecting a new rubbish bin when his path took an unexpected turn.
“I bumped into somebody I knew, and I hit them up for a job - more of a joke than anything,” he says.
“Next thing I know I was in a meeting room with three people interviewing me to become a BCO P&D inspector.”
Trevor was full of confidence as a plumber as he hadn’t faced many problems that he hadn’t been able to solve. However, starting work as a BCO in an office made him feel like an imposter. He suffered self-doubt and panic attacks.
“I sucked it up and carried on,” he says.
The study journey he undertook with Future Skills alongside his work was also like nothing he had ever done before and it came with a new set of challenges.
“Halfway through my first year at Future Skills, I received a phone call from my doctor telling me I had bowel cancer.”
Four hours later he boarded a plane to Wellington to undertake a Future Skills assessment.
He doesn’t remember much about that course and later spoke with his boss about how he could complete the programme despite his health challenges.
“She was more than happy for me to put my Future Skills training on hold, but I knew it would affect my end date and I wanted to get this completed.”
So, Trevor pushed on and has now completed his NZ Diploma in Building Surveying.
“I have made some really good mates and got some awesome memories from my time with Future Skills,” he says.
Now that Trevor’s completed his studies, he looks forward to spending more time with his beautiful family.
His advice to fellow learners and those at the beginning of their study journey is to take things one step at a time and not give up.
“There's only one way to eat an elephant. Just take it one bite at a time.”
