KEY POINTS:
Jason Smithyman has just completed his International Computer Driving Licence. That's a considerable achievement for anyone, but in Jason's case it is even more impressive.
"Well, I was born with no arms," he says. "That's really all I know. I don't know why I was, I have no idea why. It's just sort of something that happened I guess." For Jason, his feet are his hands. He can actually touch type on a standard keyboard using his feet. He uses his shoulder to operate the mouse.
"Well, I've been using my feet my whole life, so it's pretty much the same as you using your hands. I've never had hands so I don't know what it's like to lose them, you know?"
The 18-year-old has just finished seventh form and plans to attend music school next year.
He says the ICDL will be a big help taking the computerised music tests online.
"It's all done by computer so I know I have the speed and the knowledge to go and do all my testing a lot faster than I would have if I hadn't done the ICDL."
It took Jason a year and a half to complete the ICDL. He worked on the qualification while he was studying information management at Howick College.
"Whenever we did assignments or anything, I could do things a lot faster than I would if I hadn't done the ICDL. It really, really helped me actually, now I think about it."
More than seven million people throughout the world have registered to become certified with ICDL. It trains people in seven separate modules:
1. Basic concepts of information
technology.
2. Using the computer and
managing files.
3. Word processing.
4. Spreadsheets.
5. Database.
6. Presentation.
7. Information and communication.
Jason was a bit sceptical of the qualification at the start.
"Well, it was compulsory. And I was a bit iffy at the start but then I found out that it's world-renowned. It's quite a good eye-opener on your CV because it's quite an achievement to pass it."
But now Jason is convinced that the formal computer training was definitely the way to go. "I mean, you can figure things out for yourself and that's cool, but if you get taught it then you know so much more."
Jason has a passion for rock music and either wants to start a band, be in a band or manage a band. He used to play the guitar but stopped to take professional singing lessons.
"I'm into rock music, I'm doing a three-year course in rock singing at MAINZ in the city." He wants to complete a certificate and a diploma in contemporary music and performance at MAINZ. But he won't be moving into the city to attend the school.
"The people at MAINZ actually said you can either stay at home and pass all your subjects and do what you like, or you can move out of home, move closer and fail your subjects because you're too poor to eat."
His computer skills provide a backup career in case things don't go so well with the music. "If making music doesn't really pay off, I'll go into management or event programming, organising all the events and everything that happens for the big bands. I guess we'll see what happens because I mean, breaking through in New Zealand is quite a difficult thing to do."
Despite completing his ICDL with a full course load and taking singing lessons, Jason was involved with extracurricular activities as well. He sang in a band, served on the Year 13 Ingham House committee and mentored a senior student from a supported learning environment. He was also an assistant coach of the soccer team and the head of his house spirit.
"For athletics day and certain house events through the year what you do is you go out and you motivate the teams by wearing so much colour and being such a good speaker that they pretty much just say, 'Ok, let's do this'."
He says of the soccer coaching: "I got to know the guys from quite an early stage in the year, and I learned their talents and I figured out their positions, and trained them in certain areas."
Jason says he is never made to feel different. "People see me and they just accept me, so I just blend in I guess you could say."
Jason hopes that will continue at his new school. "I don't know what it's going to be like next year though, because I mean it's a completely different school, completely different people."
