Prepped for heart surgery, Rochelle pledged to achieve more
Published on 02 December, 2010
A little over a year ago, Rochelle Steans had just finished writing just-in-case goodbye letters to her daughters and was sitting prepped and ready for major heart surgery...
The former New Zealander and now Gladstone resident recalls she was unaware of what her future held, or even if she would survive the operation.
Rochelle Steans - forging ahead after taking stock of her life
CQUniversity Gladstone's next STEPS info and testing session is from 9.30am-5.30pm
on December 7, with details and RSVP via Muriel Strahm 4970 7237.
"On my hospital bed, before being drugged and having my heart stopped, I contemplated what I had achieved in my life and possibly what I still wanted to achieve. I made a promise to myself that if I did wake up I would go on to do what I had always dreamt of doing," she said.
"Facing the possibility of death head-on makes you address certain aspects of your life!
"While recovering from surgery and reflecting on what I wanted to do in the future, I saw the STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) program advertised by CQUniversity.
"I had always desired a university education and I was very tempted to apply, however I managed to talk myself out of it, and thoughts of: ‘I'm not well enough yet'; ‘how can I possibly do this with kids'; and ‘what say I can't do this', ran through my head. I didn't submit my application in March - didn't think I could possibly do it; I had a fear of failing!"
Rochelle said it took her another three months to gather the courage to apply.
"Once I accepted the position, it took every part of me to get my body through those university doors on that first day.
"When I started the STEPS program, as a person I felt almost dead, I needed a new direction in my life and I was hopeful that STEPS could lead me in the right direction.
"STEPS has opened my eyes to many new paths. It has shown me that together with self belief and hard work, I can ‘be what I want to be'.
"The program examined my learning style and I now clearly understand why I didn't excel in certain subjects at school. Being a high visual learner I have been shown how I can enhance my studying ability for the future. I have also been shown the formula for successful essay writing, something I'm sure was never publicised at high school. I have been so impressed with this formula I have even introduced my daughters to mind and concepts maps when in the early stages of story writing.
"The STEPS program has not been a walk in the park for me but all the lecturers have been very supportive. I encountered many sleepless nights trying to perfect my assignments, agonising over ‘say it and clinch it' sentences and learning the dreaded algebra, however; my efforts have been well rewarded with an overall High Distinction.
"Without STEPS I would not have had the confidence to apply to study a Bachelor of Medical Science in 2011. Hopefully in the future I will get to be who I really want to be!"
Rochelle is currently enrolled in Biology and Chemistry through the University's WIST (Women into Science and Technology) program, as she prepares to start her degree.