It’s quite familiar to see young people learning from experienced tradesmen at mechanical workshops.

John Shabach, 23, who is an employee at the Marine Industrial and Structural Engineering Limited (MISEL), hopes to learn all that he can before he venture out into the big world.

“The reason that interested me into this field is the opportunity for skilled migration abroad,” he said.

Like all young people who have set their target at getting higher education for the field that they are passionate about, Mr Shabach said that his ultimate aim is to work in a mine abroad.

“Skilled migration gives better platforms for skilled tradesman to develop their knowledge further academically and also practically with the use of advanced technology,” he said.

The Rewa lad added that learning from the older ones in the workshop on a daily basis has also broadened his knowledge on the practical side of what he has learnt academically in theory.

“I graduated with a Certificate III in Mechanical Trade and a Certificate IV in Fitting and Machinery at the Fiji National University.

“Dealing with work on maintenance and fitting of parts on vessels, wielding and repair works are some of the things I do every day.

“It’s challenging work, but it gives me more insight on how something’s we see every day are made or repaired in the industry,” he said.

Mr Shabach loves to go to the gym during his spare time and enjoys quality time going through his notes to better understand his job.

His advice to youths is to always learn from those who have better experience and never give up on their goals.