Loading
GR![]()
author
Georgia Retikaukau
At 14 years old I had left home and high school. I was living on a $150 a
week student allowance. I was useless in the kitchen and I knew absolutely
nothing about the importance of keeping up with ...view moreAt 14 years old I had left home and high school. I was living on a $150 a
week student allowance. I was useless in the kitchen and I knew absolutely
nothing about the importance of keeping up with my bill payments. I became
a student at a Hairdressing Academy and had to take out a $10,000 student
loan to complete the course. I was the only one out of about 30 to get a
hairdressing apprenticeship. I worked really hard towards finishing my
diploma while working, which took me about three years. At the age of 17
I was a senior hairdresser making a decent wage for a girl my age. After 4
years of hairdressing I decided to have a career change. I took up a travel and
tourism course, which focused on flight attending. I had always wanted to be
a flight attendant. To me they were stunning women that travelled the world and lived extravagant lives. The type
that people made way for and stopped to stare at when they walked past in their freshly pressed uniform pulling
their onboard travel bags. I had to also take out another $11,000 loan for the course and worked part time as a
waitress. On the year of my 19 birthday I became a long haul flight attendant. I will never forget the day they called
me to say I had the job. There are no words to describe what it feels like to achieve a goal that seems so far beyond
your reach. I worked as a flight attendant for about 3 years. I flew to so many beautiful places, meet extraordinary
people and wined and dinned in grand hotels. It is an experience I will always be grateful for and never forget.
At 24years old I am now married to a wonderful man named Julian who actually came up with the idea to write
this guide along with our friend Sam Collins who was a University student for more than 4 years. It was at the
time of hanging over in the supermarket after a good night out that they were both discussing cheap meal ideas
and ways to cure hangovers. So I guess you could say this guide is a combined effort of 3 good friends who have
learnt how to cook, rid random illnesses when weve been sick and had no spare cash for the doctors. Weve
cured hangovers before exams and had fun with next to no money. I hope all the things we have learnt can now
help you to get through your years as a student more comfortably and with minimal stress. You have an exciting
journey ahead of you with many ups and downs. Make sure what you choose to study is what you really want to
do. Student loans are no joke. We are all still paying ours off! And as the saying goes Being a student is like being
on the dole except your parents are proud of you. We wish you all the best in your future; good luck, take care
and most importantly have fun.view less