The Smith Family has helped University of Queensland Veterinary Science graduate Emily Neagle reach her childhood dream of becoming a 鈥榲et鈥�. Today she would like to say 鈥榯hank-you鈥� to the Smith Family as her hard work and dedication pays off as she graduates from the Bachelor of Veterinary Science with First Class Honors.
As long as Ms Neagle can remember she wanted to be a veterinarian but when she was a young girl she didn't realise the hurdles she would need to overcome to achieve her dream.
鈥淢y mother raised myself, two sisters and younger brother on her own. When I was younger, I never truly appreciated the difficulty of being a single mother, despite the many financial hardships that she would face, my mother never let us go without,鈥� Ms Neagle said.
Ms Neagle was accepted into the Smith Family scholarship program in year 10 which reduced the burden of paying for school, uniforms and supplies.
鈥淚t felt like suddenly everything was going to get better. The support each of us kids received was amazing, and the knowledge that there were people willing and able to help disadvantaged children receive schooling was inspiring.鈥�
鈥淐ompleting grade twelve is still one of my proudest moments, as well as the night I found out I was accepted into the Bachelor of Veterinary Science class of 2011,鈥� she said.
With this honor also came the realisation of having to cover the cost of living in Brisbane and also of studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science.
鈥淯nfortunately, the veterinary degree requires a number of interesting expenses, including multiple overalls, steel-capped boots, gum boots and textbooks that seem to be a hundred dollars more if the word 鈥榲eterinary鈥� appears in the title,鈥� Ms Neagle said.
She applied for the Smith Family Tertiary Scholarship and after hearing the news that she was successful things didn鈥檛 seem so bad.
鈥淔or the past five years this scholarship enabled me to purchase the bits and pieces required to complete my degree.鈥�
The scholarship also allowed her to attend the Cambridge Summer Veterinary School last year in June. Ms Neagle was one of fifteen students chosen from around the world to attend.
鈥淲ith the scholarship taking care of my university expenses, I was able to save enough money to purchase the flights and as such I experienced the best seven weeks of my life so far.鈥�
鈥淭hrough the summer school I met many life-long friends, was able to see a small part of the United Kingdom and learnt many valuable lessons regarding future career choices,鈥� she said.
Although today her scholarship from the Smith Family will end they continue to support her family with the education of her younger brother who soon will be the second person in her family to complete year twelve.
鈥淥ne day I hope to be on the other side of the coin, and help sponsor a child like myself and my brother to achieve their education goals.鈥�
Ms Neagle is the first person in her immediate family to complete year twelve, and the first to ever attend University.
Next year she will have an internship at a veterinary specialist centre where she will begin her career to one day become a specialist in veterinary cardiology.
Media: Erin Pearl (07) 5460 1229, 0409 265 587 or e.pearl@uq.edu.au
