Jared Fitzclarence studied for four years with SIDE while living in the Kimberley region, successfully completing Year 12 in 2005. He was an inspiring guest speaker at the SIDE Year 12 Leavers’ Ceremony this year.
When did you graduate from SIDE?
I graduated from SIDE and completed my Year 12 in 2005. I completed six subjects, English, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Calculus and Applied Mathematics and loved studying most of them.
What did you do after finishing school?
After my final exam, I packed up my car and left home to go and work over the summer and then was offered a place to study a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering at UWA.
After I finished my studies I got a job as an Engineer in Perth but couldn't wait to get out of the city. Not long after, I quit my job and bought a small engineering company in Karratha and moved to Karratha to run it (I was 21 at the time). Since that time I have continued to study for a trade certificate, to become an International Welding Specialist and AS1796 Cert 10 Welding Inspector, and for post-graduate qualifications.
Through all of this, I have also made sure to make time for fun, travelling to all sorts of amazing countries and seeing some truly incredible sights across our beautiful world and most importantly meeting, courting and finally marrying my beautiful wife Esther.
What are you doing now?
I am still in Karratha running my business KAW Engineering. We currently have a little over 40 staff, and are growing every year. Last year we won an award for the most innovative Pilbara business for 2019. I am also the Vice President of the Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KDCCI), a board member of the Karratha Young Professionals (KYP), am the leader of the Pilbara chapter of Engineers Australia. I am actively involved in my local church and have a number of other side business ventures on the go. I am working on a Masters of Software Engineering (Cloud Computing) to try and learn a few new skills.
How did SIDE prepare you for life after school?
I loved studying with SIDE. It helped develop my innate self-drive and work ethic and let me flourish. I was able to learn everything that I needed to set up for success at Uni. I learned to be independent, to budget and allocate my own time, to prioritise work, and to develop strong communication skills to liaise with teachers, and I discovered that how well I do was directly related to how much I chose to try (Désolé Trish, le français n'a jamais été ma passion, mais je l'ai manqué, alors je l'ai choisi pour mon cours électif à l'Uni ???? Merci!)
Most importantly though, SIDE treated me with respect as an adult at a time in my life when I probably didn't deserve it. This taught me responsibility and to communicate like an adult and this has been so important it making me the person that I am today.
