Moneque Farquharson - Cabin Crew
Before I came to Lewisham College, I'd
applied to the airline Arab Emirates to join their cabin crew but
didn't get accepted. It was a career I'd always wanted, but I
needed more insight into the industry to help me get a job, so I
enrolled at College.
The course was very hands on. I learn by doing things, so it was
very good. We practiced our customer service by working at the
College's Phoenix restaurant, and we also learned first aid and got
to practice doing things like extinguishing fires.
I'm now a member of cabin crew with Arab Emirates. I live in
Dubai, travel the world and earn a tax free salary.
I was excited to get the job; it didn't sink in at first just
what a big change I'd made.
The company looks after us well. You get discounted flights,
your accommodation is provided and transport is provided. I think
I've been to almost every continent now.
When you join a company they teach you all about their policies,
but the basics are the same wherever you work, and you learn them
on the course. It really prepares your mind for working in the
industry. Now I've got my dream job.
Pat Manzi - Travel and Tourism Lecturer
In my time
in the Travel and Tourism industry, I've worked as a travel
consultant for Thompson's, supervised a team of people at the TV
Travel Shop and run a high performing travel agency, Going Places,
for five years.
I'd always had in the back of my mind the idea that I'd like to
train future industry professionals, because I've got such a
passion for the industry, so I applied for a job at Lewisham
College. I found teaching challenging at first, but it's also been
immensely rewarding.
I find that if I give my students information about me and my
background, then it gives them confidence that I've been there and
done it. Instead of them just learning about Travel and Tourism out
of a book, I can relate my personal experiences to them, and say
this is what happens, this is how it works.
I build up a good rapport with the students. You're not just a
teacher, you're someone who wants them to go on and do well within
the industry.
My satisfaction is seeing students arrive with very little
confidence and then seeing the course lead them to a job they'd
never dreamed of. That's my reward. It's great to see students
thinking they can use their new skills to go on and achieve
something.
Doing well on the Travel and Tourism courses can be life
changing. For some students it means they end up living the dream,
flying on a private jet, or earning a tax free salary in Dubai.