RELATED: Passing on a love of learning
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After always feeling capable of achieving more, mature-age student Andrea Lawson said it felt surreal to finally attain her degree.
The Bachelor of Management – Business Management graduate said it was a day of celebration after three years of hard, but rewarding work.
After leaving school at the end of year 10 to get a job, Ms Lawson, 43, had always harboured ambitions of returning to study.
“I always went through my career feeling like I was able to do so much more, but was restricted because I didn’t have the education,” she said.
“I had that real longing to be educated and eventually the opportunity happened so I could.
“I’m very fortunate that everything worked out.”
The Deakin University graduate said there was no doubt that her degree helped her secure a branch manager position with multi-national windows and doors company Dowell.
Ms Lawson said she was surprised how much she enjoyed studying and it became almost like a hobby.
“I’d recommend anyone to give it a go. I think the trick is you’ve got to study something that you’re interested in.”
She had completed TAFE diplomas but got her chance to experience university life in 2013 by enrolling in the Deakin University Associate Degree of Business, Sciences and Arts.
Ms Lawson now plans to complete further studies.
“I feel like I’ve found a real passion in my life. It’s funny, I didn’t know whether it was going to work for me, then I started and I just loved it and can’t get enough of it.”
She was one of almost 200 students to be presented with a qualification in areas including arts, nursing, commerce, education, fisheries and aquaculture, environmental science and applied science.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander addressed students at the Lighthouse Theatre.
She encouraged graduates to work hard and have fun, but “remain aware of the inevitable and constant changes in the world and the fabulous opportunities that come your way.
“Remember that the greatest innovations in history always come from people who are bold enough to explore new frontiers and to think differently.”
“Be curious, be brave, be creative and be persistent.”