Having previously resided in Canada, Wolfy Pink is a relatively new arrival to Southland. The move to Invercargill with his family has been just the catalyst he needed to pursue tertiary studies. Prior to enrolling at SIT in 2021, Wolfy worked with his mum and her partner who were renovating homes and selling them.
Wolfy had heard good things about SIT’s Invercargill campus and went in to find out about their courses. After a lengthy chat on the options available, he took home a booklet with all the trades qualifications on offer.
“I originally decided to study at SIT just to give it a go and try out the automotive trade. Automotive was not my first choice, but was the only course I had the qualifications to apply for.”
Having previously studied to high school level in Canada, Wolfy says he was uncertain of what to expect from SIT to begin with, but soon found it a positive experience. The assistance offered to students and the method of teaching were both a great surprise, he says.
The vocational pathways level 2 course Wolfy chose allowed him to take the first step in tertiary education, also helping him to identify the next steps in his learning journey. “During [the course] I came to realise that electrical work was really for me and I applied for the electrical pre-trade course.”
Wolfy really hit his stride with gaining new knowledge during his second course. “I’ve learnt so much, from all the maths I never learnt in school, like Pythagoras theorem, basic algebra and scientific notation.” Knowing the scientific background to electrical work has really helped his understanding “of why we do certain things the way we do in the electrical trade”, he explained.
“My study has definitely helped me think in a more mechanically minded way about objects and problems.”
“My tutor Evan, who was with us for the whole course, was really persistent on teaching us good habits in the trade. He would rip out terminations and not allow wire strippers in the workshop.” Now that he has moved onto an apprenticeship Wolfy appreciates the tutor’s attention to detail, “often scrutinising certain aspects of our work really helped”.
“The most valuable lessons I think have all come from tutors relaying their past experiences in the trade, especially their firsthand ones about difficult problems they’ve solved.”
Wolfy says the stories which will always stick with him are about the problems solved using unconventional methods and thinking outside the box, as well as hazards in the workplace that are not always very apparent. “When a tutor tells you about something that can injure you and then shows you a scar, it really cements the idea of being vigilant,” he added.
Facing some tough challenges while he was training, Wolfy says it wasn’t the study itself, the challenges always came from outside of SIT. “During my time studying automotive my mum was going through cancer,” he shared. With a younger brother to look after and being the main caregiver for his mum, Wolfy says the extra responsibilities often left him exhausted. “But I think the whole ordeal left me with more resolve,” he says.
He also temporarily lost sight in an eye which he describes as “much less of a challenge ... I lost the use of my right eye for a week or so after cutting my cornea [one weekend]. ... it’s resulted in me appreciating my depth perception a lot more.”
Wolfy says he enjoyed meeting new people on campus at SIT. “During my electrical pre-trade I met a bunch of friends and the whole class as a whole, got on really well with each other, many of us staying in contact afterwards.”
“The people I’ve met in general are a big highlight: classmates, tutors, and even the student services’ folks. Because of all the people I genuinely enjoyed being around there was never a bad day.”
Wolfy was awarded the most improved student for Electrical Engineering in 2022. SIT Electrical Tutor, Evan Madden, said Wolfy is one of the most resilient and determined people he has ever come across.
“The significant barriers and personal challenges Wolfy overcame to complete his studies far exceeded what could normally be expected. However, this was not permitted to become a distraction, diminish his desire to learn, or negate his high level of engagement.”
Wolfy’s ability to communicate with SIT staff allowed them to support him in a collaborative manner. “This ultimately enabled him to exceed his own expectations and shine academically,” Mr Madden stated.
Since graduating Wolfy has started an electrical apprenticeship through Southern Group Training Trust and works for Tansley Electrical. He says the electrical pre-trade course is fully responsible for his position, “not only introducing me to Southern Group Training Trust, but also giving me the knowledge and skills needed to become an apprentice”.
Wolfy’s current goal is to become a qualified electrician; after that, he says it would be tempting to continue studying for even more qualifications, “but I’ll have to see”, he concluded.