Today saw one of the first of many “lasts”. It was my last Orientation for STEPS students. For those of you who don’t know, STEPS (Skills for Education Preparatory Studies) is CQU’s enabling program. Some people call them preparatory or access programs. STEPS is now in its 26th year of operation and has a combined enrolment of approximately 1400 students spread across CQU’s Queensland campuses – Brisbane, Noosa, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Emerald, Rockhampton and Mackay – and a Distance cohort. When I started teaching with STEPS in 2003 there was no Distance offering. Neither did we offer STEPS at Brisbane or Noosa – they are recent additions to our footprint. Needless to say in the last 10 years or so the world of enabling education has seen immense change. This is true of Orientation in terms of the activities and sessions that we run for students. However, the message for our adult students, who are often returning to continue their education which may have been difficult or interrupted, remains the same.

1. Make the most of this opportunity

2. You are now an adult learner and are expected to take responsibility for your own learning journey

3. The STEPS lecturing and teaching team is here to guide and support you

4. Be brave as you move outside of your comfort zone and into a potentially transformed life through education. It won’t always be easy but the rewards can be immense.

Over the last 10 years I have seen first hand this to be true. Hundreds of students have passed through my classroom. Some have flourished. I have seen their eyes light up as they gain knowledge and skills and they continue into undergraduate programs full of motivation. Others don’t. That’s their choice. Only fairly recently have I stopped feeling guilty about the students who don’t make it through, or who do, yet choose not to continue with study. We all make choices and our students are no exception.

So as I looked out into the sea of bright, shining, slightly nervous faces this morning and gave my best Head of Program talk about challenges, journeys, transitions and rewards, I realised that this was the last time I would do this. And I realised that I have learnt as much from STEPS as my students may have learnt from me.