A Glenroy student has overcome three years of missed schooling to be named a finalist in the Victorian Training Awards.
Amanda Gharib, who has graduated from Broadmeadows’ Kangan Institute with a Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and Victorian Certificate of Education certificate II in business, is in the running to be named vocational student of the year at the statewide training awards.
She is currently studying for a bachelor of business (management and marketing).
Ms Gharib said she was surprised by the nomination, given the hurdles she had overcome.
“When I was 14, my family and I were in Kurdistan on holiday when my father got into a car accident,” she said.
“His condition was bad and we weren’t able to travel and return home. We stayed in Kurdistan for three years.
“During that time I wasn’t able to go to school and I slowly started to lose English skills like grammar.”
When Ms Gharib returned to Australia at the age of 17, she tried to go back to high school to complete year 10, but she wasn’t allowed to because of her age.
It was then that a family friend suggested she continue her education at Kangan Institute.
“Being recognised at such a high level has definitely motivated me to do well academically,” she said. “It’s definitely taken me by surprise.”
Kangan Institute automotive teacher Luke Perry has also been shortlisted for the awards and is in the running to be named Victorian VET Teacher/ Trainer of the Year.
The award winners will be announced on August 26.
