St Mary’s Women: Leisha Young (’13)

POSTED March 29 2022 , Old Girls

IN 30 SECONDS

Class of: 2013

Tertiary education:  Diploma of Enrolled Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing

Current role: Perioperative/Theatre Nurse and Private Orthopaedic Theatre Nurse.

Dream dinner guest: Pia Muehlenbeck

Music you are currently listening to: Ocean Alley

Favourite subject at school: PE Studies and Child Development

Your experience at St Mary’s in 3 words: Memorable, fun, rollercoaster!

Where has your life after St Mary’s taken you?

Life after St Mary’s has been jam-packed and eventful. Graduating from St Mary’s was an achievement in itself. Going straight to TAFE to study a Diploma of Enrolled Nursing (EN), learning to live life, study, be young and free – it’s a balance. On graduating from TAFE and starting work as an EN, you learn to balance life, work, wages and professional responsibility. After my 12-month graduate EN program finished, I applied to the University of Notre Dame and did what’s called an Articulation Pathway for EN – it’s a fancy name for a conversion of Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse (RN). Two years/four semesters full time at Notre Dame.

Those two years were the hardest two years of my life, not to be dramatic Balancing full time work, professional responsibilities, the work and study load of university with being young and enjoying life – it’s a balance only you can make work. Graduating from Notre Dame was my next biggest achievement I have conquered. I was luckily able to convert my contract at work from EN to RN, which meant doing similar tasks with a nice pay rise…. WINNING!!

As a CareerLink student – how did you find the program and how did it contribute to your pathway after school?

I enjoyed the responsibility of taking control of my future – the more you put into the opportunity, the more you will get out and only you can make that happen. We are so fortunate to have the school CareerLink program and the connections and opportunities St Mary’s has to offer. Not all students get this and we are very privileged. During Year 11, while applying for the Careerlink pathway, I was already working towards my career pathway; I had goals that would positively impact my life after school. School days will pass but your career is something you’re working on for the rest of your life. You want to make choices that help you achieve your goals. The Careerlink pathway in Year 12 enables you to have support when going to your first interview, catching public transport (note I’m a country girl, public transport is foreign to me…), having the confidence to send an email asking if they are hiring or emailing regarding work placement and being professional. These are the small key values and attributes you learn, that support you after St Mary’s.

Was there a particular teacher or staff member who left a lasting impression on you? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?

Pam Underwood, who was my CareerLink teacher. She is a teacher that my sister and I caught up with after leaving St Mary’s. She made me feel like any dream I had was achievable. Teachers and parents aren’t mind readers, you need to voice your interests, goals, dreams and aspirations.

Elize De Rooster, who was my counsellor. She will forever hold a special place in my heart. I highly recommend having a professional person (counsellor) you can vent to and express your feelings. So often, feelings and experiences I was having were normal and it was nice to know I wasn’t alone. One thing I have learnt which is my motto now: you are not the first one going through this; you will come out a better person and you will look back on this experience one day, proud of yourself!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

• Getting my Bachelor of Registered Nursing. My parents’ flight from Esperance was cancelled on the day of my graduation ceremony and I thought I would have no one there to see me get my degree certificate. It was like a movie; as I was about to walk on stage, they walked in the door. It was very emotional!!
• Playing in the 2013 St Mary’s Women’s Football Grand final. Yeah. we won!!!
• Doing an operation at work one day and everyone in the theatre was a St Mary’s Old Girl!

What is your fondest memory of your time at St Mary’s?

All the boarding house memories and experiences, sitting on the lawn at lunch time, interschool sports and the outdoor education camps.

What is the most important message you want to send out to current students thinking about their tertiary pathways and careers?

• Not doing TEE/ATAR won’t set you back and doesn’t mean you aren’t ‘smart’. You are taking control of your own career pathway and that’s amazing!
• It’s okay to change your mind.
• Stay in your own lane.