When Sarah Radley became a mother she embarked upon a mission to change the course of her family's history.
Her grandmother who left school after Year 3 became a mother at 16; her mother finished school in Year 6 and became a mother at 16; her sister completed Year 7 and had a baby at 17.
"These women, although hardworking, didn't fulfil their dreams," Sarah said.
So when she became a mother while working in the clothing industry in the United States, she decided to return to Australia and gain a tertiary education.
"I had promised myself I would never raise children in the States and I realised that to get somewhere in Australia you needed an education," said Sarah, who was a Year 12 graduate.
She was unaware she was pregnant with her second child when she left the US in 2004.
"I gave birth to my son eight months later," she said.
But the birth of Hanif, now 5, brother to Alimah, 7, did not divert Sarah, who is in her 30s, from her plan.
Sarah completed a Business Diploma at TAFE in 2006, then went on to enrol full-time in a Bachelor of Business at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) while working part-time as a personal assistant.
As a single parent, she later combined part-time study with part-time work and is due to graduate from QUT in December. Her ultimate aim is to become an academic.
"I have finally risen above the psychological hurdle of 'it's too hard' or 'I'm not smart enough'," she said this week.
She described her breaking of the cycle of her family's history as a message for her "children, nieces and other women".
Sarah, who lives at Carina Heights, credits some of her success to the support she received from QUT's Learning Potential Fund.
"Without the Learning Potential Fund scholarship I would not have been able to make the small steps to change the pathway of my life," she said.
QUT's Learning Potential Fund, which is supported by QUT alumni, staff and the community, provides scholarships and bursaries of $1000-$2500 to about 2500 students in financial need each year.
Fundraising manager Rebecca Hazell said the scholarships resulted in a 35-40 per cent drop in attrition among students who received help.
"Students on Learning Potential Fund equity scholarships are selected not on academic merit but financial need," Ms Hazell said.
"Those who are both cash poor and time poor are the most at risk.
"A Learning Potential Fund scholarship helps them reduce their paid work hours and to commit themselves to their study.
"Students report it's not just the money that makes a big difference but receiving a scholarship increases their confidence and their sense of belonging to QUT."
Media contact: Elizabeth Allen, QUT media officer on 07 3138 4494 or e1.allen@qut.edu.au
