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OP2 student signs up for psychology
University of the Sunshine Coast first-year student Holly Warland had tougher decisions than most young people when it came to choosing a career path.
"Originally I wanted to be an archaeologist but bending on the ground was not a good idea. And some careers, like track star, are just not an option," the 17-year-old laughed.
Holly, who was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy almost six years ago, is now studying the inner workings of the mind through a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at USC.
"Muscular dystrophy is a slow, progressive disease and it took me a while to accept that I couldn’t do some things," Holly said. "I was looking for a course that would help explain what was happening to me but also something to enjoy."
She graduated from Mountain Creek State High School last year with an OP2 and chose USC because of the course and the location, close to her family home at Mooloolaba.
"I didn’t have the distraction of sport so I could knuckle down and focus on what I could control, and that was academic results," she said. "I’m the first person in my entire extended family to ever go to university so they’re very happy."
Holly said her family also was a bit surprised by her choice of psychology.
"They think it’s funny I’ve picked such a deep and meaningful subject because I can be brutally honest and kind of unrefined. But I’ve always been interested in the biological side of how the brain is wired, why we do things."
She said the campus layout was great for her wheelchair. "It’s very easy to get around and I really enjoy the independent learning."
— Julie Gatehouse