Lynwood Senior High School graduate’s dreams of career in surgery still alive

FOR a moment it seemed as though Mina Rezaee’s hopes of attending university had hit a major road block.

The 2018 Lynwood Senior High School ATAR Dux runner-up has had dreams of a career in medicine since a young age.

While the Iran-born teenager is a permanent resident (she moved to Australia in 2013), her lack of Australian citizenship meant she would have been unable to obtain a university loan, threatening to temporarily put her studies on hold.

However, she has since discovered her humanitarian visa does qualify her for a HECS-loan, and her high ATAR also meant she received three scholarship offers for her medical science degree at the University of Western Australia.

Miss Rezaee said she dreamt of being a cardiovascular surgeon and joining humanitarian groups to provide aid to those who needed it most.

“That was my goal when we actually came here, to study and help those in need,” she said.

“I like science a lot, learning about the human body and using that knowledge to help people.”

Despite her excellent academic achievement, Miss Rezaee admitted Year 12 had been a stressful time as she juggled her studies with family life.

“I’m the main interpreter for everyone in the house, I have a responsibility to everyone in the entire house as I’m the oldest child,” she said.

“My dad does have a disability and he’s unable to work, my mum faces English barriers and she has my brother to look after.

“There was a lot happening in the family, it was the most stressful year, but it was a great life experience.”