But for Emily Gibson, her graduation from the Cargill Academy training programme is a much bigger deal — it is a major step towards life-long independence.
The 26-year-old has Noonan syndrome, a rare genetic condition that stops typical development in various parts of the body.
It can affect a person in several ways, including unusual facial features, short height and heart problems and it can cause a child to develop more slowly than usual.
In Miss Gibson’s case, she has most of these symptoms, as well as hearing problems, which mean she has to wear hearing aids.
"I am a slow learner. I take time and have to repeat new skills a number of times to learn them.
"It helps if whoever is teaching me, shows me what to do while talking me through a new activity, and writes down the instructions step by step for me to follow later.
"I learn verbally more than visually and need extra time to complete a job."
Miss Gibson said she was diagnosed with the condition when she was 15.
"I didn’t notice I was different until I was in my early teens, although I was bullied a lot at primary school.
"Because of this and my learning disability, I was home schooled from year 7 for five years by my mother."
When she reached year 11, she went back to school where she continued her education in a learning centre.
"Having that support really helped and I enjoyed that for the two and a-half years I was there.
"I felt relief that I fitted in."
But her condition continued to create challenges for her, particularly when socialising.
"My poor hearing can make me frustrated, especially if I have to use the phone — it is very hard to hear on the phone.
"I can miss out on conversations, making social events difficult, but I have learnt to lip read which helps."
By the time she reached the end of secondary school, she felt her options were limited.
"I never thought I would be able to get a job because I am slow, and people get sick of repeating things if I don’t hear them properly."
She said her future started looking up when she started working at Cargill Enterprises and training at the Cargill Academy, in Dunedin, where she learnt literacy and numeracy, and job-related skills like weighing, working with money and reading a recipe.
"We also learnt and practised social skills, how to ask questions if we don’t understand, how to follow instructions, listening to others and accepting their opinions, how to give encouragement and compliments and health and safety around work is also a big topic.
"We also each have individual work and personal goals that we work towards."
Miss Gibson said it had changed her life by giving her independence — something she never thought she would have.
"I have my own flat and do my own budgeting, cooking, baking and cleaning.
"I have saved up and bought a phone and a computer, and I have enough to go on a trip with friends from church.
"Cargill has given me a job and allowing me to earn my own money has changed my life."
It had also given Miss Gibson a new-found confidence to look to the future.
She is now working towards getting her learner driver licence and her dream is to learn how to run her own business.
"I would love to be able to have my own online business, selling makeup, nail care and polish, a clothing line and accessories."
Miss Gibson is one of 22 people who will graduate from their training at the Cargill Academy tonight.
