Being in and out of hospital so often it's perhaps unsurprising that Rhiarn Snowden (pictured) became interested in the health system.
Meet Rhiarn Snowden.
Rhiarn is of Aboriginal descent, with her tribe the Ngemba people residing in Bourke, NSW.
She's also a second-year nursing student, a recipient of two scholarships and a university ambassador who hopes to provide opportunities to fellow Aboriginal students considering university study.
Rhiarn says she's happy she enrolled at Edith Cowan University as a mature-aged student.
"I am mentally ready and have my priorities straight, and my experience in the health industry can be used during clinical placements and throughout my degree," she says.
Rhiarn says her greatest challenge so far is not to be her own worst enemy.
"I have always been very hard on myself regarding my academic achievements, and I set myself very high standards.
"I have learned that criticism can help you grow, and mistakes can help you improve."
As you're about to discover, Rhiarn is no stranger to challenges.
A tough start in life
Rhiarn was born at 24 weeks, 3 months premature.
It's hard to imagine, but she weighed only 725 grams.
"About the size of a can of Pepsi" is how she describes it.
But that was only the start of her introduction to the world.
Two weeks after being born, she developed Klebsiella Septicemia, causing both of her arms and legs to turn black.
She lost all the toes on her right foot and some fingers on her right hand.
She also experienced organ failure and a bleed on the brain.
Rhiarn was on life support but pulled through, thanks to the dedication of health professionals and her family.
She was then incubated for 3 months to help her develop further.
Edith Cowan University undergraduate nursing student Rhiarn Snowden at the Joondalup Campus.
Destined for a health career
Being in and out of hospital for operations, procedures and appointments, it's perhaps unsurprising that Rhiarn developed an interest in health and in the medical system.
She would even practice the procedures that were performed on her by using her teddy bears to ease her anxiety – as suggested by a psychologist at Princess Margaret Hospital.
As a young adult, Rhiarn then worked in areas such as disability, mental health support and phlebotomy at Perth hospitals.
Another source of inspiration – and direction – came from Alysha, one of her four sisters.
From a young age, Alysha was determined to achieve in life, demonstrating that hard work and dedication can help you achieve your dreams.
Alysha has worked for over 10 years in the mining industry and has always studied, including completing her MBA while working offshore.
She also believed in Rhiarn and encouraged her to complete a nursing degree.
"This gave me the confidence and push I needed to start my journey at university," says Rhiarn.
Meet Rhiarn for yourself in this 30-second video.
The support to succeed
Rhiarn is now studying to be a nurse.
Her goal is to eventually complete a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery Practice and work with Aboriginal women and babies – in particular, premature babies.
But there's another part to this story.
It's about giving people the support they need to succeed, whatever challenges they've had in life.
Rhiarn credits the university's flexible study options and generous support services for giving her the confidence to work towards her dream career.
"At ECU, they considered my circumstances, which alleviated my stress and made me feel at ease," she says.
"The fact I can study online and come on to campus for my workshop once a week was a game changer, and I had no doubts I would be more than capable."
"They also had learning and access teams who assisted me in creating a personalised study plan.
"And they have free psychological services and academic support programs, such as Peer Assisted Study Sessions, for students struggling with fast-paced tutorials."
If, like Rhiarn, you have a dream career in mind, but have concerns about achieving it through university study, it's important to choose a university that sees you as an individual and wants to help you succeed.
