Completing high school is an achievement many Carinity Education graduating students once thought might not be possible.
Students such as Tyla and Zahlia overcame considerable barriers to education to finish Year 12 - two of 70 young people who graduated from Carinity schools in 2025.
Tyla's confident leap forward
When Tyla joined Carinity Education Shalom in 2021, he faced the challenge of starting fresh in a new school and finding his place among unfamiliar faces.
"Before I started at Shalom I had experienced some difficulties at my previous school," Tyla said.
Slowly, he began to believe in himself and build friendships.
"I have grown so much since coming here. I have made friends and have become confident and comfortable," he said.
Tyler also found comfort in Carinity Education Shalom's supportive environment.
"I find Shalom to be easy and relaxed. My favourite part of each day is talking with my teachers. My biggest champions have been my amazing teachers and my friends from Year 12," Tyla said.
With that help, Tyla tackled new challenges and achieved a range of certificates, including Certificate II in Automotive Electrical Technology, Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation, Certificate I in General Education for Adults, and short courses in Career Education, Literacy, and Numeracy.
"I am currently in the interview phase for a mechanical apprenticeship. My goal would be to become a fully qualified mechanic," he said.
His teacher, Paris Hart, is very proud of Tyla's transformation.
"His self-confidence has increased so much. When Tyla first came to us, he was shy and reluctant to participate. Fast forward to Year 12, and he excelled at TAFE and school and is extremely confident socially," Paris said.
"Tyla was often the only student going off to TAFE - which was a huge change from school where everything was familiar. He had a lot of support and stuck it out, managing to complete several certificates."
Seeing the value and purpose in life
Before she arrived at Carinity Education Glendyne, Zalia often "felt very low emotionally" and faced challenges with unhealthy habits that affected her well-being.
Zalia "experienced a complete transformation" after enrolling at the Hervey Bay school. She values the connections she made with her "amazing friends and teachers".
"I've come to see the value and purpose in life, largely thanks to the structure and routine the school provides. This school has shown me that everything is possible and that there are always people willing to help," Zalia said.
"The thing I love most about Glendyne is the community. The teachers have been incredibly supportive, encouraging me through every challenge and helping me stay positive."
"They pushed me to complete my work and made Year 12 a positive and rewarding experience, even when I sometimes wasn't the best to deal with. I will forever be grateful for the time and effort that was put into making sure I finished school."
One of Zalia's teachers, Deagan Bunting, praised her resilience and self-awareness and her ability to "work through tough times and remain optimistic about the next step".
"What stands out most about Zalia's journey at Glendyne is her thoughtful and mature approach to challenges. She has grown into a leader amongst her peers, being the voice of reason and support to others," Deagan said.
"I hope that Zalia continues working towards the things in life that make her happy, following her passions and being a great human."
After starting at Glendyne as a person lacking direction, Zalia is now "most excited for my future, finding my own independence, and starting the career I've been wanting to do".
"This school has helped me shape that by always believing in me and giving me the tools and guidance to achieve the future I want."
Read the stories of fellow 2025 Carinity Education graduates, Kailey and Maddi.
