A different pathway to find success

That’s the sentiment from Roastery owner Richard Rudkin who believes getting out into the work force at an early age can open up a world of opportunities.

“I'm concerned that a lot of kids in Griffith are pushed towards higher education,” Mr Rudkin said.

“Mum and dad think they should go into higher education but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best thing for them.

“I think a lot of young people miss out on a lot of opportunities that aren't higher education based because they don't take other opportunities seriously enough... and there are lots of opportunities.”

One person who has jumped at those opportunities was Christian Webb.

Still in highschool, Christian took up a job at the coffee shop just as something to do.

“It was more getting experience in the workforce because if you just do school, you have no idea what the real world is like,” he said.

“What I'm personally following right now is going into the hotel management side.”

A life in the hotel business wasn’t always on the cards.

“Originally I chose to follow a medical career,” Christian said.

“I started working here as a casual worker and I just fell in love with it straight away.

“I personally didn't want to work with food, at all. Started working with food, loved it. 

“I don't think I've had one day where I've gone home and said 'wow, that was a bad day.'

“As far as I can tell from now, it's a career path I'm interested in pursuing.”

Now Christian is taking this new-found career path seriously.

“I've got a week of work experience lined up in Sydney in the next few months and I can't wait to go see what that side of hospitality is like,” Christian said.

“It's not necessarily what you think it's going to be.

“If you don't feel passion, you won't last long.”

Mr Rudkin agreed.

“We find that hospitality has been a bit brutalised as a career in the regions,” he said.

“People either love it or hate it.”