Bundy STEPS to greater things
Published on 22 October, 2003
Life for the 58 STEPS students who graduated at last Friday’s ceremony at CQU Bundaberg will never be the same again. From improved writing skills to public speaking confidence, the graduates share one thing in common. Each one has developed a thirst for knowledge and an ability to achieve in ways that only a year ago they wouldn’t have thought possible.
Many of the STEPS students have not gone past year 10 at school and are the first members of their family to ever go inside a university. After graduation they know that because they have succeeded, there is absolutely no reason why their children can’t do likewise.
STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) coordinator Karen Seary says graduation time is a happy time. After months of work students get the chance to celebrate their academic and personal success.
“The greatest thing about the STEPS program is that the success rate speaks for itself. Students do go on to greater things and as the name suggests it is a step in a different direction. Some students will have chosen higher education studies either here at CQU Bundaberg or another university while others might use their new skills to assist them in finding employment,” says Ms Seary.
Richard Wright (pictured with STEPS coordinator Karen Seary) is a father of five boys who thought his life long dream of being a nurse would never be a reality after failing the STAT test last year.
Not so; after his wife a current CQU Bundaberg nursing student told him about STEPS.
"It has changed my whole life. I left school at year 10 and worked in the mines and other jobs. Although I had this dream of being a nurse I really didn't think it would happen. None of my family had ever been inside a university let alone study at one and now I am on my way.
"There is nothing to stop my boys doing likewise. I would have been encouraging them to get a blue-collar job but not now." Richard is one of the 96% of students who have applied to study at a University next year. Which does not surprise Karen.
“I have found that mature aged students have a real thirst for knowledge and are determined to succeed and statistics show that this does occur. I expect to meet most of these STEPS graduates in the corridors of the university next year.”