In Her Shoes
Each month we feature one of our students and profile them here. It is always interesting to see where our students are and what they are doing and hopefully it will inspire you to either complete your course or join us and start studying.
This month Christine catches up with Beck Thompson of Pearl Planning, who graduated from the Academy with a Certificate in Wedding Planning in July 2009.
Christine: Beck, Congratulations on launching Pearl Planning. I have to say your website is gorgeous. We see a lot of Wedding Planning sites here at the Academy and both Kylie and I were very taken with your approach. Can you take us back to before you joined the Academy and let us know what led you to feeling that this industry was something you would like to be part of?
Beck: I was an Activities Manager on Cruise Ships and I was in charge of arranging and conducting vow renewal ceremonies on board for couples celebrating their anniversaries. I also got to plan and organise all of the weddings onboard. It made me see how special that day was to those individual guests, how nothing can be left to chance and how they can never have that day back again, so I wanted to do everything possible and learn everything possible to make sure that a bride and groom or anyone celebrating a special event with my help, had the day that they had dreamt off. I am a very sentimental old soul too, for my age, so I love standing back after all of my hard work, taking a moment, seeing a very happy couple ‘in their special moment’ (usually it’s the bridal waltz or speech time) knowing I helped bring that day together for them. It gives me that professional and personal satisfaction that nothing else does for me. So, I do it for them… and for me!
Christine: How excited do you feel about what you have achieved?
Beck: I have grown up with the saying ‘life is no dress rehearsal’… and it’s not. You have this life to make the most of, we have more opportunities now than ever before and there is no excuse not to make your dreams come true…it just takes dedication and strong will.
It is such a great feeling to wake up in the morning and know you don’t have to go to ‘that job’ that you didn’t really enjoy, instead, to wake up , head to your own office and think to yourself ‘what can I do to make my business better today’? It’s a ripper feeling!
Christine: You are so right Beck. That is exactly how I have felt since completing my course with the Academy and taking on the Course and Communications role. Doing something you love makes a huge difference in your life. So how did you go from completing your Certificate to launching your own business?
Beck: Since graduating from the Academy with a Distinction I have left a full time job, to take care of my own full time business in the wedding industry, which is a dream come true. I am my own boss now and I have been planning and overseeing many weddings and building relationships within the industry to ensure my business grows to its full potential.
Christine: Beck that is wonderful. You have taken the journey that Kylie envisaged for students when she first developed this course. Do you have any advice for others who may be reading this and wondering if they could do what you have done?
Beck: I would advise anyone looking for a career in this industry to ‘go for it’. Don’t hesitate.
It takes a little bit of planning ahead, dedication and I am sure, some small sacrifices, but these sacrifices and planning will eventually lead you to a certification in the industry of your dreams and open so many doors for you. Remember that other old saying? ‘If you snooze, you lose’? …do it!! Talk to the academy as they will help you to work out a way to make it happen! It’s so rewarding, you won’t look back.
Christine: That is great advice Beck. I just wrote an article for Event Experts in which I say the same thing (Business Start Up – Just Do It!). Beck you are obviously very happy with your decision to study with the Academy. Can you tell us what it was that made you choose us?
Beck: I shopped around and chose The Australian Academy of Wedding and Event Planning because, first of all, I didn’t want to cheat my way into this business by doing a ‘small short course’ that may only run for a weekend or a few evenings somewhere, I wanted to study the industry ‘properly’ at my own pace, by correspondence, but still have the support of a tutor and professionals in the industry. When I spoke to Director Kylie Carlson at the Academy, she was honest, supportive, encouraging and a true professional at her craft. Kylie has had years and years of experience doing what I wanted to do and she was willing to share her experience with me as a student. They were the most flexible with the way I went about paying for my course so I knew it was affordable and it was made easy for me by the Academy.
Christine: Beck thanks you so much for your time. We wish you all the success you deserve in this industry. It is great to see you now pursuing your dreams and we are delighted to have been part of that!
Beck’s Business Details:
Pearl Planning Wedding & Events.
P.O Box 152, Flemington, 3031.
0416 303 708. (03) 9376-8815.
www.pearlplanning.com.au
