By CASEY NEILL
NIRIA Blockley didn’t think she was smart enough to tackle a business course.
But she has not only completed a Diploma of Business Administration – she finished the eight-month course in four.
The Eumemmerring 27-year-old was the first graduate from Evocca College’s Dandenong campus.
“I’ve wanted to do business studies for quite a while but I had a lot of people saying I wasn’t smart enough,” she said.
“I wanted to see what it was like and see if I could actually do it.
“I was quite shocked at what I could do.”
Ms Blockley is now studying a Diploma of Management.
“I thought I’d give management a try and see how that goes,” she said.
“Believe in yourself and you can achieve anything.”
She’s studying with the aim of opening her own butcher shop.
“I’m a trade qualified butcher. I love my meat,” she said.
“I thought having my own butcher shop would be an ideal future.”
When Ms Blockley’s not studying, she’s searching for work.
“I’m trying to get into administration work,” she said.
“I need to get some experience in another business.”
She said her confidence grew during her studies and she learnt something new every day.
Evocca College Dandenong opened in April this year and offers diploma-level courses in counselling, community services, business and events.
