On Friday, March 5, seven panelists spoke to the students about how they had overcome their own challenges in life on their different career paths.
Jane Stephens, Nardeen Tawfik, Swati Parmar, Karen Rogers, Simone Knight and former students Charlotte Pearson and Edie Haley (via video link) shared their stories; each with a valuable lesson to take home.
Mrs Stephens, a physiotherapist at Echuca Regional Health, spoke to the students about working to rise in her career and maintaining her health at the same time.
“When I was at school, smart girls weren't celebrated like they are now,” she said.
“But once I got to where I wanted to be, I was loving life as the chief physiotherapist at ERH.
“Four years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was distressing because I didn't feel sick, but I realised I've never been more sick in my life.”
She said she had to learn to slow down and realise she wasn't as strong as she once was.
Dr Tawfik spoke of her childhood growing up in Egypt and her career as a doctor there and in Australia.
“I studied to be a doctor over in Egypt, but a few years ago my family and I decided to move here,” she said.
“It came with a lot of challenges and there were times I wondered if making the move and having to essentially start my career again was worth it, but it definitely was.
“You find that sometimes the journey is rough, but the outcome is beautiful.”
As a former MAG student, Ms Pearson spoke about her struggles through school and finally making it into her chosen career of accounting.
“I actually had to do my year 12 over two years, as I became very sick,” she said.
“In year 11, I had to take three months off because I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
“But it just goes to show despite all that, you can get through it. Even if you don't know what you want to be right now, it's all going to work out in the end.”
Private Haley has taken strides in her career as a preventive medicine technician in the Australian Defence Force.
“I had a conversation with a friend after completing school and decided I too wanted to join the ADF, and I haven't looked back since,” she said.
“It's a very rewarding job and I encourage anyone to think about a career with the army.”
Dr Parmar has also made the move to Australia in the past six years and continues her passion for helping others as a general practitioner.
“Starting a fresh journey in a medical field here and balancing the other parts of my life was an interesting experience, which taught me the real essence of life and shaped me to what I am today,” she said.
Mrs Rogers and her husband, Paul Clavin, have dedicated their lives to helping the furry and hooved friends of our country as veterinarians.
“I started off my working life in and around Melbourne, with a stint overseas before settling in sunny Cohuna,” she said.
“Now with three junior Clavins growing up too fast, life is constantly changing as the district and its population evolves.”
Mrs Knight made the big decision to swap her career as a lawyer to take on the land as a farmer.
“I grew up in Tasmania and studied law in Melbourne where I worked at the largest corporate law firm in Australia for 13 years,” she said.
“We moved to the farm when my eldest child commenced school just over three years ago. Whilst the transition was initially really difficult, I now feel very fortunate to have made the change.”
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