A FORMER student is on the crest of a wave after being told he will be joining a white-water expedition in the Himalayas.
Jake Fantarrow left Darlington College three months ago after securing a distinction in the Extended Diploma in Level 3 Outdoor Activity Leadership.
He was offered a job with outdoor specialists Alexander Adventures in Gateshead and will now help take a ten-day expedition to the white-water rivers of Nepal in November.
“I always knew I wanted to be a ski instructor but never imagined that I’d one day be going kayaking to the Himalayas,” said the 19-year-old, of Shildon, who was a pupil at St John’s Catholic School, in Bishop Auckland.
“I hadn’t even been in a kayak before joining the outdoor leadership course at Darlington College and now I’ll be helping with an expedition on grade 3-4 white water rivers. I have worked hard but do feel incredibly lucky. I’m really excited to get going.”
Jake began with a great placement with Outdoor Ambition in Darlington, and combined his studies with working in the industry, winning him the Principal’s Award in 2022. His new role with Alexander Adventures will allow him to develop further as part of a company specialising in leading mountaineering, climbing and kayaking expeditions all over the world.
“This will be great experience for me and I’ll be able to use it to build upon the skills and knowledge I already have from the programme,” said Jake, who has already qualified as a paddlesport leader. “I’m going for my white-water leader qualification next and I need as much time on the water as possible for my logbook.”
Shortly after his return he will head to Switzerland in December to be a ski instructor for the season.
Richard Longstaff, senior lecturer and programme leader for the Outdoor Activity Leadership programmes at Darlington College, said: “This is an astonishing opportunity and one that Jake thoroughly deserves. He has committed himself to the industry from the very start.
“He worked incredibly hard at college and displayed an outstanding attitude to work and life in general. Jake is a fine example of what can be achieved with the right mindset studying at Darlington College. We are extremely proud of him and look forward to welcoming him back to inspire the next group of young leaders.”
For more information on the outdoor programmes at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk, or view examples of the student activities by searching Darlington College Outdoor on Facebook.
