Seventeen Hillcrest High School girls recently had the fantastic opportunity to take part in theShadowTech initiative, spending a day with Tuatahi First Fibre to discover more about the technology industry and the wide range of careers available within it.
Throughout the day, students participated in a huge variety of interesting activities and talks. They learnt how fibre networks work and how ultra-fast internet reaches our homes, explored some of the problems that can occur within the network and how these are identified and fixed, and discovered the important role GIS mapping plays in managing New Zealand’s fibre infrastructure.
A key message from the day was just how diverse the technology industry is. Students saw that Digital Technologies involves much more than just programming, with careers spanning networking, infrastructure, GIS, problem-solving, marketing, communications and digital media.
One of the highlights was hearing from five women working at Tuatahi First Fibre, who shared their different backgrounds, experiences and career pathways. Their stories showed students that there is no single pathway into a technology career and that a wide range of interests, skills and experiences can lead to exciting opportunities in the industry.
Overall, it was a fabulous day filled with learning, hands-on experiences and plenty of inspiration. Every one of us came away having learnt something new and with a greater understanding of the many possibilities a career in technology can offer.
A huge thank you to Tuatahi First Fibre and everyone involved in ShadowTech for welcoming our students and providing such an engaging and valuable experience.
