Top choice for OP1 student in Gladstone
Published on 25 February, 2011
When Gladstone State High School student Natasha McLean received the news that her hard work had paid off with the top score of OP1 she was not only flooded with congratulations but also with expectations.
With an OP1 score, Natasha was eligible to apply to any university in the country, in any program, and people just assumed she would study a degree in medicine or dentistry. However she decided on a field she was passionate and confident about.
Natasha McLean will begin studying at CQUniversity this week thanks to an OP1 scholarship."It was assumed that I would undertake study in a field that requires a very high OP, however I believe we should not choose a career by what OP we receive or the opinions of others, but by what we believe we would enjoy and do well in," Natasha said.
"There was definitely a significant amount of pressure on me to study in Brisbane, but I also received a lot of support from business owners and others in Gladstone in my decision to study locally. It was because of this support, as well as knowing people who have undertaken this course and are where I want to be, that I made the final decision to study at CQUniversity."
Natasha will this week begin a degree in Building Design at CQUniversity Gladstone, where she has received a full scholarship thanks to a Vice-Chancellor's initiative to encourage high achieving students to stay in their home towns and study at their local university.
With dreams of a career as a building designer or architect, Natasha believes she has been extremely lucky to be able to study for her chosen career in her home town.
"Studying locally at CQUniversity means I can reduce my living costs by continuing to live at home. The University also offers flexible study arrangements that will allow me to gain employment in my chosen field before I have finished studying.
"I was ecstatic to learn I was successful in receiving the scholarship. It will help tremendously in that it has removed a significant financial burden and now I will be better able to focus on my studies."