To mark 2019 International Women’s Day (#BalanceforBetter), NCWQ is profiling an impressive women each day in and around the 8th March. These featured young women are past NCWQ Bursary Recipients, and have demonstrated incredible leadership, success, community service, intelligence and commitment to their personal and professional passions. In today’s feature, past bursary recipient Joelle Cullen shares her thoughts.
To learn more about the bursary program, keep an eye on our website in the coming month.
What were the benefits to you in being a 2018 NCWQ bursary recipient?
Being a recipient of the 2018 National Council of Women Queensland provided me with financial support to help accommodate for the cost of living away from home to study at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Aside from this, however, the NCWQ also gave me the opportunity to meet so many inspiring women and encouraged me in my first year studies, especially while settling into a new city away from my rural hometown and close family. I am extremely grateful for all the connections I have made and continual support I have received through NCWQ over the past year.
What are your goals for this year?
This year I aim to continue my second- year studies at the University of Queensland and achieve distinctions in my Biomedical Science courses. I am excited to be pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor and cannot wait to see what the remaining six years of studying “Doctor of Medicine: Provisional Entry for School- Leavers” at UQ has in store for me!
What is your personal mantra or self-talk that you use to keep yourself on track in pursuing your aspirations?
To keep myself on track in pursing my goal of becoming a doctor, I constantly have to remind myself throughout my studies that, as stated by Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘life is a journey, not a destination’. Medicine is a degree which requires a lot of study, patience and commitment, therefore, if I look too far ahead and don’t take each day as it comes, it can be overwhelming!
Recognising that while I have a goal to become a doctor and am working towards that goal, there will always be new goals and ‘destinations’ to pursue, motivates me to do my very best and make the most of the present moment. As a result, I want to make the absolute most of my six remaining years of medicine study and continue to work hard, form new friendships and, importantly, enjoy myself and have fun along the way!
Who have been your most significant woman role models?
One significant role model in my life is my former boss and manager at work, Naomi Bath. Naomi was a pharmacist in my hometown who was well- loved, respected and dearly missed by the rural community. Recently, she moved to Perth to pursue a career in medicine and since, has been on placement volunteering in the country of Tanzania and with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She has been largely involved with the local Rotary club and continues to inspire me with her love and concern for those around her and commitment and dedication to work hard in all she does.
