Proserpine High School graduates excited for career in military, trade studies

Year 12 graduates from Proserpine State High School are putting plans in motion for next year, with exciting options that include military training, trade studies and university.

Year 12 graduates from Proserpine State High School have said they are excited to be on the cusp of “a new chapter” in their lives after receiving their ATAR scores.

Aj La Torre, 17, Alex Davidson, 18 and Mac Rogers, 17, from Proserpine State High School are some of the many 2022 graduates with diverse plans for the future.

“Finishing Year 12 was the best year,” Alex said.

“Getting everything out of the way and going out into the world is exciting.”

Passionate about combat engineering, Alex has decided on a career in the military.

Aj La Torre, 17 and Alex Davidson, 18 from Proserpine State High School on Friday, December 16, 2022. Picture: Katrina Lezaic

In February, Alex will leave his home in the Whitsundays for six months of training in Kapooka and Sydney before he is deployed to an active unit in either Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane or Townsville for a minimum of four years.

As part of military training, Alex will also specialise in a trade such as welding or carpentry, with further training in demolitions and explosives.

“I did cadets for four years here and I really loved that,” Alex said.

“I loved the lifestyle I was exposed to and you are paid well and get to see the world.

“I love the structure of it, everyone works as a team and nothing gets in the way of that.

“There is a bit of sacrifice to it and you’re going that extra mile for your country which not everyone wants to do,” he said.

Fellow graduate Aj La Torre is choosing to step in a different direction.

He moved to Australia from the Philippines four years ago before starting at Proserpine High.

Hailing from a family of teachers, he is set on studying a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at QUT before going on to a Master of Teaching to eventually become a high school science teacher.

“Since grade 9 I’ve been into chemistry, and I find it really fun,” Aj said.

“I want to play a role in educating people. I think it is really important.”

Proserpine High School Captain and 2022 Dux Mac Rogers said he is pleased with the ATAR result he received on Friday.

Mac Rogers from Proserpine State High School.

“What I needed for my course which is a Combined Bachelor of Engineering at UQ was 97 and I got 98.55, so I was pretty happy with that.”

“I will definitely be doing computer science, but it is really flexible in the first year at least, and you can decide what you like and go from there.

“There is Aerospace stuff and Artificial Intelligence which I would like to try.

Mac said his main specialisation will be in the new field of Mechatronics Engineering.

“With Mechatronics you understand the hardware and software side of things, so it sets me up pretty well.

“So you might work on automation systems, or on a drone that does things automatically.

Mac chose to study Maths, Physics, Chemistry, English and Business in Year 12 and says he is both excited and sad to leave his hometown.

“There will be a lot more people on campus in Brisbane though, so it will be hard not to find friends I think.”

Originally published as Proserpine High School graduates excited for career in military, trade studies