Thomas Rixon says it’s “not the truth” that people who struggle in high school aren’t cut out for university study. Photo: Thomas Rixon.
While he “hated the whole high school environment”, a Far South Coast man has found an appreciation for a different kind of classroom.
Thomas Rixon left school in Year 11 after experiencing bullying and loneliness.
“I just hated the whole high school environment, for lots of reasons,” he said.
“The entire high school system – even once you get into the senior years – is entirely structured around them treating you like a child.
“You’re not allowed to wear what you want. You have to go where they want … A lot of it is just being managed.”
The 20-year-old has recently moved from his hometown of Bega to Canberra.
This month, he has sat in lecture halls for the first classes of a Bachelor of Arts at the Australian National University.
It follows his achievement of an ATAR-equivalent score through TAFE NSW.
“I spent about a year doing nothing, and then, ultimately, I wanted to start doing some stuff … I heard about the TAFE course, and it just flows from there.”
While he initially enrolled to finish high school education, Thomas went a few steps further.
“I really liked the pseudo-academic environment that it offered. I was like, ‘Oh, I really want to go into academia, basically.”
While he achieved the Year 12 equivalent qualification, he also went on to complete the ATAR-equivalent course.
“With the marks I got out of TAFE, they were good enough that I could attend quite a nice university.”
Thomas is pursuing a degree at ANU after following an alternative entry pathway that let him “rediscover” a love of learning. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
TAFE NSW Managing Director Chloe Read said the VET provider’s HSC and tertiary preparation courses were designed to give students a trusted route to further study.
“We are proud to provide a flexible alternative pathway that works for students who have the potential to thrive outside a traditional school environment.
“With higher-skilled jobs being the engine room of Australia’s future workforce, these courses ensure students are not left behind.”
For Thomas, it was that flexibility that made all the difference.
“You have your classes – but once you go to your class, you can go home, you can go to the library to study.
“It’s more that you’re supported, rather than forcibly directed, which makes it a much better environment for learning.”
As for his future, Thomas has his eyes set on finishing his degree, with continuing education – perhaps a PhD in sociology – also a possibility.
“I’m not thinking too much about things that far ahead. I just want to see where it takes me,” he said.
But he believes there’s a reason more people are considering an alternative pathway into their university courses.
“There are a lot of people who just do not slot in with the high school system, at all.
“The way it’s presented is if you don’t slot in with high school, it just means that you’re not academic or you’re not good for education.
“But that’s really not the truth.”
