Looking across the rim of his coffee cup, David Shelley vividly recalls the moments his life changed for the better.<\/p>\n
It was only a few years ago that he had reached the depths of despair. He was homeless on the streets of Perth and the notion of a career was a far-fetched dream. Ludicrous, even.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d had a hard life. I went into government homes when my parents\u2019 marriage broke up. I lived on the streets and bad things happen there. I was unable to work. I was constantly in a rut,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n
But when he found a place he could call home, his life started to turn around.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time in ages I had secure accommodation. When I got that place, I wanted to finish my schooling. I just had to get up and do something to change my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
He enrolled in Tuart College in Perth, which offered bridging programs and pathway courses to Â鶹ֱ²¥.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gave me confidence. The teachers were so good \u2013 if someone else believes in you, you believe in yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne teacher inspired me to take a STAT test to get into uni. I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d get in, but I did pretty well!\u201d<\/p>\n
His results meant he was eligible to undertake a Curtin nursing degree \u2013 a subject he felt passionate about. But the expense of studying was a sticking point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t afford it. I had no source of income other than the government,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
One year later, and still keen to study, David applied for a Curtin scholarship and was thrilled to be awarded one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was like the key to my future. I think my mum cried when I told her. She was very proud that I\u2019d turned my life around. I\u2019m the first one in my family to go to uni, and Curtin gave me that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now in the third year of his nursing degree, he’s passing his units with distinction. He\u2019s learning to be an effective member of an interprofessional healthcare team and has a clear future career path.<\/p>\n
\u201cNursing is the science of compassion. I like human biology, and the physiology of disease is very interesting. I\u2019d like to care for my mum as she\u2019s getting older now, and I\u2019d like to know how to care for her friends,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
David’s mental strength is apparent, and he\u2019s a source of inspiration to others who are facing life\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything\u2019s possible with a bit of perseverance. I strongly suggest that young people and mature-age people take a chance and apply for a scholarship. It\u2019s an enabler to a better future \u2013 you just have to get up and do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI think my mum cried when I told her. She was very proud that I\u2019d turned my life around. I\u2019m the first one in my family to go to uni, and Curtin gave me that opportunity.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":662,"featured_media":8252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_research-areas":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"research-areas":[],"class_list":["post-8251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-and-global-community"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"STAR Scholarship applications for 2021 are now open","content":"