First in class graduate turns doubts into degrees
Receiving their testamur is a special moment for any graduate, but for Gabrielle Valinoti her new degree represents years of work in overcoming adversity and self-doubt.
At CQUniversity’s Cairns Graduation Ceremony, Gabrielle was not only recognised for completing her Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), she was also awarded First in class for her cohort.
“I always had a passion for psychology, but I did not believe I was smart enough for it,” Gabrielle said.
“Throughout my adolescent years, I was told by teachers that I would never amount to anything, so overcoming that was a challenge.
“I took a risk by enrolling at university as a mature aged student, and to my own surprise, I was smart enough! All because I was motivated to study something I cared about.”
Gabrielle explained that previously school had fallen to the wayside due to mental health concerns. It was this experience that ultimately led her to pursue psychology as a career.
“My draw to psychology was based primarily around my own life experiences as an adolescent who struggled with their mental health,” she said.
“It stemmed from an innate need to understand the, 'why?', the why of the world, human behaviour, and most importantly, myself.”
Thankfully Gabrielle found the flexibility and unwavering staff encouragement she needed to succeed at CQUniversity.
“I experienced life-altering challenges in my final year which resulted in my Honours year being graciously amended by staff.
“Without this support, I can safely guarantee I would have not been able to complete my Honours year at my true potential,” she said.
“I also received financial assistance with a CQUni Cares Scholarship. This allowed me to focus my energy on writing my thesis and other assessments instead of stressing about being able to afford necessities.”
Gabrielle’s involvement with the University even extended beyond her academic pursuits in her role as a Connect Assistant in CQUni Connect school outreach program.
The initiative delivers programs that raise aspirations towards higher education and empower students to apply and successfully transition from high school to university or TAFE.
"Being a Connect Assistant was very important to me as I made a clear difference in someone's life," Gabrielle explained.
“I played a vital role in supporting young people from backgrounds similar to my own. I learnt a lot about myself and what sort of difference I wanted to make in the world.”
“The number of connections, and friendships I made along the way were a huge highlight though out my studies.”
She hopes to continue to championing and mentoring others as she enters her new career in psychology.
I currently work at Child Safety to gain experience in the Government sector and to work with families, children, and young people in the community,” Gabrielle said.
“In the future, I would like to come back to study and pursue a PhD in Behavioural Psychology, Eventually venturing into tertiary lecturing to help students advance their education in psychology."
