Student Profile - Olivia

Olivia has now finished her course, but this is what she wrote about her experiences during her first year of study.

Name: Olivia

Age: 18

Course: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

Mode: Full-Time

Year: First Year

Disability: Scotopic Sensitivity

My Background:

I attended the catholic school primary system. Then I went through the public school system and received my Higher School Certificate due to the fact that my disability was diagnosed and supported to the best of their ability, considering very little is understood about it. I received a UAI of 92.45. I feel that if my disability was diagnosed and supported from the beginning of school and not just from year ten my academic life and my self-esteem as a school pupil would have been so much higher. When you don't learn as the majority do it effects your well-being as you are made feel very different. As a pupil in the school system, that is to the detriment of your self-esteem. I believe a teacher's goal is to motivate a child, to want to learn regardless of any disability and make their schooling a wonderful experience.

Career Goals:

Teaching underprivileged and Aboriginal people in disadvantaged areas.

Services accessed at university:

Everything is photocopied onto blue paper. Lights are dimmed or fluorescent lights are replaced. Extensions on assignments are handed out if requested. Extra time, rest breaks and separate supervision is provided for all exams.

My advice:

For teachers ….. encourage a child who wants to learn. If you can make education self-rewarding regardless of the child's intellectual ability, you have achieved your goal. The process of education can determine personal and professional goals the child believes they can achieve. I believe we should always put the most into every child believing they can achieve whatever they put their mind to, with the encouragement and support of a compassionate Education Department.

To students and families ….. we need to educate teachers emotionally as well as academically as teaching consumes the whole child, it doesn't just come out of a text book. We must encourage the child to always believe in themselves but most importantly, we must always believe in the child.