A pathway to educational impact

For Angela, Year 12 wasn’t just about exams – it was about survival. Moving out of home and feeling disconnected from school, she began to lose faith in education altogether. Having been told that she should drop out of high school, she wasn’t sure what might come next.

After speaking with a Career Advisor, Angela learned about Open Foundation. Being completely free, the program gave her the opportunity to try her hand at university style study without the financial commitment. It was an opportunity to prove the nay-sayers wrong.

Feeling “scared, nervous and overwhelmed”, Angela didn’t initially feel ready for university. But week by week, that fear turned into focus, and Open Foundation became stepping stone she needed to feel confident and ready for her degree. “Open Foundation gave me a solid academic base and helped me build the confidence and skills I needed to transition into university study” she said.

Speaking to the flexibility of the program, Angela notes that she found blended study (studying half face-to-face and half online) to be super flexible, allowing for more free time.

Now studying Education, Angela is determined to be the kind of teacher she once needed. Somone who sees potential, not problems. Learning all the foundational skills she needed to begin her degree, Open Foundation has set her up for success. “I learnt how to reference, how to paraphrase how to academically write, and more”, she said.

Now, the first in her family to attend university, Angela feels like Open Foundation has given her a career. “Without Open Foundation, I wouldn’t be at university at all, it has given me my education back”, she said.

Speaking to her future, Angela hopes to become “an empathetic, passionate and effective primary school teacher who makes a genuine difference in student’s lives”. With a goal to be the safe space for students that she didn’t have in school, Angela is excited to make an impact in education.

Offering encouragement to future students, Angela notes, “Open foundation was such a supportive way to transition into university especially if feeling unsure or returning to study. The staff really care, and the program builds your confidence step by step. Do not be afraid to ask questions, there's so much support available, and you're definitely not alone.”

Angela Miezis

Having faced many challenges in her schooling, Angela is striving to become the teacher she always wanted. Open Foundation gave her the opportunity she needed.