After years of changing courses, chasing different careers, and doubting his direction, Bronson Billing found his purpose somewhere he didn’t expect: in cybersecurity and helping others find their confidence.
When Bronson Billing first enrolled at university, he lasted five weeks.
Today, he’s studying a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the University of Tasmania, leading Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), tutoring students, and planning for his honours year.
But this was not part of his plan.
In fact, for most of his life, Bronson didn’t imagine university would play any part in his future.
Growing up at Exeter, after moving to Tasmania from Melbourne as a young child, Bronson had his sights set on a very different career. For as long as he can remember, Bronson had dreamed of being an airline pilot.
He began flying at just 13 years old – the earliest he was legally allowed to start lessons – and spent years working toward what he thought would be his lifelong career. But after finishing college during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, that pathway closed unexpectedly as the travel industry ground to a halt.
“It felt like I was back at square one,” he said.
What followed for Bronson was a series of stops and starts: psychology, information technology, freelance programming. Nothing felt like the right fit.
For a long time, every change felt like another setback.
“I think when you’re searching for direction and nothing seems to stick, it’s easy to lose confidence in yourself.”
The breakthrough came when Bronson returned to the University of Tasmania to study a Bachelor of ICT, majoring in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
What surprised him wasn’t the subject. It was the people.
Technology had always fascinated him.
He’d been playing video games since he was just two years old and was always curious about how things worked. When he tried creating his own games, he discovered a love of programming, even if, as he jokes, was “horrible at the art”.
But unlike his experience at larger online institutions, at the University of Tasmania he found himself surrounded by familiar faces, approachable unit coordinators and staff who knew students by name.
“I never felt like just a number here,” he said.
That access opened many new doors for Bronson. First, he became a Student Ambassador. Then a PASS leader. Then a tutor. All before graduating.
Today, he spends part of his week helping other students navigate the very challenges he faced himself. And it’s through this journey he has found a love for teaching.
“I love being an educator,” he said. “It’s become a real passion of mine.”
For Bronson, teaching brings together everything he’s learned throughout his winding journey.
It’s also given him a new perspective on the years he once considered wasted.
Today, many of the students he connects with most are those who haven’t taken a traditional path to university. He’s quick to remind them that learning doesn’t happen on a single timeline.
“I think people are often scared to enrol in a course because pulling out feels like failing,” he said.
“But my experience has shown me that trying different things isn’t wasted time”.
Looking back, Bronson no longer sees his story as one of false starts. He sees it as proof that sometimes the scenic route is the one that gets you where you’re meant to be.
And the highlight of his university experience hasn’t been a single achievement or milestone. It’s been growth.
“I always thought university would take away my freedom, but what I found at UTAS was the opposite”.
For Bronson, finding the right path wasn't about getting it right the first time. It was about having the confidence to keep going until he found where he belonged.