A job that changed me: I went off the rails in school and worked nights at a blast furnace. It was like gazing into the fiery pit of hell
It finally dawned on me that perhaps the teachers were not just getting in the way of my good times, they were actually on my side
TL;DR
- The author moved to Australia from the UK in 1983 as a teenager.
- After his mother's death, he struggled with substance abuse and dropped out of school.
- He took a demanding night job in a blast furnace, melting plastic to create garden furniture.
- This job sparked an epiphany about the value of education and a desire for a creative career.
- He pursued a night course in music recording and then took a job as a trainee sound recordist.
- He taught himself film shooting and editing, leading to a career as a documentary director for major broadcasters.
- The author argues for the importance of adult education, recognizing that people mature at different stages.