You can't take that lightly, you need to really respect it and that's why I try to give

everything I have in each day to these kids.

My name is Nathan Portelli and I'm a

Southern Cross University Educational graduate.

After I finished year 12 I had

a great opportunity with a feeder team for the Gold Coast Titans. Part of the

requirement was that I was either working a certain amount of hours or

studying full-time. I was thrown into a job working with children 1 to 6 years

old and I instantly enjoyed that so I started studying at the preparing for

Success Program through Southern Cross which then led into starting studying

full-time. If I look back at my time at Southern Cross I'm very thankful the

staff they're real people they do the whole professional aspect really well

but they also take the time to get to know you. They supported me by allowing

me to study online particularly with the Summer School that's offered for

those that are willing they can continue their study over summer. That flexibility

is really a great thing.

Through Southern Cross I was awarded a

scholarship to go and teach in Vietnam for three weeks, it was an amazing

experience. Being an educational professional it was really refreshing

visiting a country where education is just valued so highly.

I've now been teaching nearly three years at core public school. I do come every day and I

want to learn and I grow and I want to get better at what

I'm doing. It's one of those professions that the more you give the more you get

back and the more you feel a sense of achievement. You can turn a kid's day

from being an average day to a really great day with just a few little comments.

And I think that is so powerful.