Dr Jodi Cronin has been chosen as the special guest speaker for the 20-year STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) celebration at CQU Mackay campus on Friday October 14.

Now considered a STEPS success story, Dr Cronin’s career journey originally began a little shakily. She was a high school dropout at age 13.

Her childhood was generally disrupted; she attended 11 primary schools before entering high school, which proved to be even more troublesome.

“It was evident that I was not cut out for school, either academically or socially. I was threatened with expulsion and was barely passing my subjects. Just before I turned 14, my parents decided to pull me out of school,” said Jodi.

She went on for the next 10 years to work as a labourer, a checkout operator, a baby sitter - whatever she could get her hands on that required little skill or knowledge.

Jodi married in these years and had 2 children, a family which motivated and inspired her to better herself.

The young mother pondered how she would help her own children through their schooling considering her own limited education.

In a quest to better herself, she approached TAFE but was knocked back due to her education level. It was proving difficult to get back into the education system, despite Jodi’s strong desire to do so.

Shortly after, a STEPS brochure came in the mail and Jodi went along to testing for entry into the course believing this could be her way back into the system.

Just passing her entrance examinations, Jodi enrolled in STEPS along with her mother. They became a source of strength and motivation for each other throughout their studies and with a lot of hard work, they both did well in all aspects of the program.

When it came time to consider life after STEPS, instructor Lois Pinkney asked Jodi what she would like to do. Jodi, expecting to be laughed at, replied “medicine”.

Surprisingly for Jodi, Lois launched into some serious course advice.

“She never once made me feel like it was an impossible dream and I often wonder if she knows how much her faith in me changed my life,” says Jodi.

Jodi took the advice and commenced studying at James Cook University where she graduated top of her class with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, with 3 university prizes to top it off.

The next stage was to apply to university to study medicine. After a few rejections, Jodi never gave up and eventually gained entry into medicine at the University of Melbourne.

She graduated and is now a GP Registrar working at the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, NSW.

Jodi believes that without the STEPS program in her life she may not be where she is today.

“My motto in life now is to never give up, and I hope that other high school dropouts have the same second chance that I was give through STEPS,” says Jodi.

All STEPS graduates are encouraged to contact Katrina Richmond on 4940 7416 for details on how they can be a part of the 20-year anniversary to celebrate the success of the STEPS program.

Photo left: Dr Jodi Cronin will be the guest speaker for the CQU Mackay campus STEPS 20-year celebrations on Friday October 14. She is now a GP Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Coffs Harbour Health Campus, NSW.

Photo above: Dr Jodi Cronin is pictured with her husband Shane and her children Robert and Alanah.