When Wagga’s Vicky Okot was forced to leave school before finishing year 12 she thought her dreams of becoming a pediatrician were over.
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Ms Okot, a refugee from Uganda who arrived in Australia in 2005, dropped out of school after struggling to keep up with her fellow students.
She went on to defy the odds, working her way through a TAFE NSW course to gain entry into nursing at Charles Sturt University, which will give her a pathway to complete her dream.
Ms Okot is one of many students using alternative pathways, with almost 700 students graduating from Wagga’s TAFE campus in 2016.
“My parents couldn’t help me with my assignments because English is our second language,” she said.
“It just doesn’t come naturally so you have to work 10 times harder.”
Ms Okot said she was proud to have come so far.
“People should remember there are always options,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid because you feel like you can’t do it – follow your dreams.”
