Despite losing her sight halfway through her Griffith University degree, giving up was never an option for Samantha Alexander who graduated with a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the mid-year graduations today.
The indigenous Sydneysider, who studied her degree online, said the biggest hurdle was learning how to use voice-over speech software.
“When I started university I could still read text books, so not being able to read print was very confronting,”she said.
With the help of Griffith’s Disability Support Services, Sam taught herself how to use voice-recognition and speech software.
“From reading textbooks myself to having to listen to a monotonous voice read the text to me and remember that information was a huge learning curve.”
“It’s an entirely different style of learning.”
Sam has an incurable degenerative eye condition called Cone-rod Dystrophy which affects her peripheral and central vision.
She is legally blind and had to give up her driver’s licence three years ago but has maintained her independence, completing an indigenous cadetship with NSW Corrective Services in 2014.
At 18, Bachelor of Education (Secondary) graduate Daniel Collins thought he would be married, living a comfortable suburban life and teaching in Brisbane. In his 3rd year of uni, Daniel’s study exchange to the US changed everything. With a love for all things science and travel, Daniel is currently teaching Biology and Chemistry at a Catholic school outside London and has a reputation for enjoying weekend snowboarding trips in Switzerland and term breaks in Egypt. 
1994 marked a year of momentous political change in South African history as Nelson Mandela was appointed president, the end of apartheid was celebrated and the country became democratic. Whilst many citizens cheered the dawn of a new era and believed things would get better, there was still enormous uncertainty and danger associated with the future direction of the country. Wayne Beech’s family initially decided to stay in Johannesburg after the first multi-racial election but after his brother was involved in a serious hijacking, they made the tough decision to move to Australia.
“I think Griffith courses are at the forefront of tertiary education, as they are consistently dynamic in their offerings.”
“The worst thing you can do is look back on your life in 5-10 years and wish you had made that move. You don’t want to have any feelings of regret.”
“Chase your passion and the money will come”
“I can’t leave uni; I’m always looking for new things”.
As students, we are constantly worried about our employment prospects at the end of our studies. We are barraged with common refrains like “you need to start networking” and are told woeful tales of the competitive market and the elusiveness of our ‘dream job’.
Griffith University Careers and Employment Service 