Master of Business Leadership graduand, Karin Eastwood, says nothing will make her more proud than to share the stage with her son, George, at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus 2015 December Graduation Ceremony.
On Thursday, 10 December, Karin and George will join hundreds of graduands from the Schools of Business, Health Sciences, Law, and Philosophy & Theology, preparing to take the next steps on their professional journey.
After George entered an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science at Notre Dame in 2011, Karin accompanied her son to a Postgraduate Course Information Evening, where his interest in studying a Graduate Diploma of Exercise Physiology developed.
It was during the same event that Karin was encouraged by her son, and later by Notre Dame staff, to consider postgraduate study opportunities in Business, despite English being her second language.
“While I was interested, I thought that university study was beyond me. It was then that George said to me that this was my time and I should take it up. So I started with a Certificate and then progressed onto a Master’s, with encouragement from my son, Dean of the School of Business, Professor Chris Doepel and Associate Dean Chris Mawson,” Karin said.
“With my Dutch background, I found the first unit challenging but never felt unable to do it.
“Study was something that I wanted to do to complement my work in not-for-profit aged care from a multicultural aspect.
“One thing that I have learnt from my time at Notre Dame is that every challenge that comes your way, you should turn into an opportunity, and that’s what I’ve done.”
Passionate about allied health, George hopes to use his postgraduate studies to begin work as an exercise physiologist, with a focus on musculoskeletal rehabilitation. George recently completed a clinical immersion placement in Cambodia as part his degree.
George says sharing the graduation stage with his mother will be a special moment.
“Throughout my Year 12 and undergraduate studies, my mother was always there to encourage me. That encouragement was flipped on its head once my mother decided to enrol in her Master of Business Leadership course at Notre Dame. I’m so proud to be standing up on the podium with mum on graduation day,” George said.
As a direct entry university, you can still apply for 2016 – www.notredame.edu.au.