Marissa follows mum's habit of jumping into life
Published on 15 October, 2008
When your mum is confident enough to jump off Melbourne's Carlton Crest Hotel for an abseiling wedding, some of that enthusiasm must rub off.
So when Marissa Starvaggi's mother Ana Marie threw herself into a CQUniversity prep program, it was not long before Marissa was also involved boots and all.
Students also gather in Bundaberg ... meanwhile a Determined single mum among those ‘stepping out' in Mackay there was a Big crowd for Gladstone STEPS ceremony and Emerald's ceremony was held last Friday.
Marissa with her mum Ana Marie
Mother Ana Marie (Cardon) and daughter Marissa are now graduating together this aftenoon (Oct 9) at the end of their STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies) program, on campus at Rockhampton.
Ana Marie was born in the Philippines to Spanish parents and her father represented their homeland in basketball at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
After the family moved to Australia, Ana Marie progressed to Year 11 before getting married and starting a family which now includes 5 children.
The abseiling wedding was to her second husband, with whom the family moved to Yeppoon.
Ana Marie said at the time she saw a TV advert for STEPS she was starting to have more time to herself, as all but one of the children had left home.
She said STEPS seemed like the best opportunity to get back into study but as it was more than 30 years since school, she chose the full-year option.
Marissa is congratulated by the Vice-Chancellor
"I enjoyed the program so much that I recommended it to Marissa, who joined in July for the accelerated program," Ana Marie said.
Marissa, who has a Spanish, Filipino, Italian, Australian heritage, completed Year 12 in 1999. However, she initially progressed into some "party years and random jobs" before first trying university studies for a few weeks in 2001.
She said this first taste of Uni life was a bit too rich but she now felt more confident of succeeding since completing STEPS.
"I don't want to be in hospitality all my life, so a Uni degree will open up more career paths," Marissa said.
Ana addresses the STEPS graduation
Marissa applauds her mum 
Ana dresses up for a spoof to entertain the audience
