Introduction

A small introduction about myself, 28, Born in Melbourne, Australia. I studied unsuccessfully* at RMIT University, where I had the privilege of teaching and finding what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I am a data geek. I LOVE data, discovering how things work and sharing my passion with others.

Studying unsuccessfully

I wanted to zone in about studying unsuccessfully at RMIT University. My experience at RMIT was extraordinary. I owe so much to the University, Professors, Casual Academics and Internal Staff within the "School of Computer Science and Information Technology".

I mentioned unsuccessfully if it was down to my grades, exams and finally passing well. I failed at every single measure that much so I was kicked out.

However, like any university, school, college, or even catching the damn train! Networking can change your life and carve in stone friendships you never thought possible. There was one subject I was pretty okay at, Web Programming; I connected well with the lecturer. After the semester had passed, I was offered If I wanted to be a lab assistant.

I kindly declined, kinda... I asked if I could sit in, observe and learn how to teach for an entire semester. A semester passed, and I finally decided to ask if an opening was available.

Fast track 7 years, I went from a computer lab assistant, tutor, examiner, head tutor, lecturer, head tutor of CSIT outreach , and researcher and finished as an Honorary Researcher.

I found my true calling. If I could do anything in the world, it would be doing outreach programs daily, inspiring the next generation of learners.

Entrepreneurship

Like any Entrepreneur, you will experience failure. Still, failing is not failing if you understand what went wrong, how, and why. There was an ISE (International STEM Education) before this, and we had been given the opportunity with a Maker Project grant for STEM engagements. As founders, we just didn't click after a few deliveries.

• The outcome was new friendships, still associated with and supporting an old co-founder.
• Tested the market. It was raving hot and ready, with high demand.

The New ISE (International STEAM Education) was established in 2021 during rocky times with Covid. My partner and I were still going through lockdowns with no end in sight. Waiting to return to schools, it was time to pivot and pivot hard. After all the investment into new hardware, it was time to go cloud.

One chapter closes another begins.

Even though this breaks the timeline of events, I decided to leave this to the end of my story. Sometime during the ending years of my career at RMIT University.

I had the privilege of getting to know the Deans. At the time of her (Lin Padgham) retirement, I didn't really know much about her besides that she was really kind-hearted. Lin and Lawrence Cavedon approached me after a meeting about whether I would be interested in returning to study.

They were kind enough to get me back into RMIT University as a student.

Life and external work was getting a bit in the way of studying, and my main drive for being at University was killed. As much as I wanted to get a degree and wear the graduation gown. The rules of not having a degree and teaching had crushed what I loved doing.

Before finishing up as an academic at RMIT, I asked whether it be possible to understand how to partner with the University. Providing the outreach program, I developed and loved so much by delivering more and entwined into some type of business is how the idea of ISE formed.

One day I would love to revisit this chapter and give studying a go again.

Cheers,

Byron

p.s I recommend reading What I am trying to achieve.