Life ExperienceLife Experience

By By

Maryam MarqosMaryam Marqos

Where did I come from?Where did I come from?

I came from Greece but I am originally from I came from Greece but I am originally from Iraq. Iraq.

Left Iraq when I was 10 Years old. Left Iraq when I was 10 Years old. Lived in Greece for three years.Lived in Greece for three years. We came to Australia by applying for a We came to Australia by applying for a

refugee visa through immigration.refugee visa through immigration. No school for three yearsNo school for three years When i came to Australia in 2002, I was 14 When i came to Australia in 2002, I was 14

years old.years old.

Back in my country what study did I Back in my country what study did I complete?complete?

Grade 5Grade 5 Basic English taught in this Grade.Basic English taught in this Grade. Back in my country, I hated the Back in my country, I hated the

English subject because teachers English subject because teachers used the tough way to make us learnused the tough way to make us learn

Back in my country what were the Back in my country what were the opportunities in study and employmentopportunities in study and employment

Limited opportunities in study and Limited opportunities in study and employment.employment.

No support from governmentNo support from government Payment upfront to go into university or Payment upfront to go into university or

TAFE. TAFE. No government support.No government support. Difficult to work and study if you have a big Difficult to work and study if you have a big

family.family.

What did I want to become when I What did I want to become when I grew up in my country? grew up in my country?

During my Education time in Iraq i During my Education time in Iraq i was young and hated study was young and hated study

I never thought of what to becomeI never thought of what to become class captain for 5 years back in my class captain for 5 years back in my

country. country. Leading role due to tough personalityLeading role due to tough personality Took teacher role many times in Took teacher role many times in

helping students with their study helping students with their study

What did I study first when I came to What did I study first when I came to Australia?Australia?

Language centreLanguage centre High schoolHigh school TAFETAFE It’s a clear study pathway but It’s a clear study pathway but

are the struggling moments in are the struggling moments in my life.my life.

What influenced my decision to choose What influenced my decision to choose my career?my career?

I like to taking riskI like to taking risk I liked the legal study subjectI liked the legal study subject To prove to my community and To prove to my community and

myself that in Australia if a person myself that in Australia if a person fights for what they want they can fights for what they want they can make their dream come true and make their dream come true and reach their career goalreach their career goal

What does my community think about What does my community think about education?education?

Education is importantEducation is important Advice their children to study and be Advice their children to study and be

educatededucated Many parents don’t get the opportunity to Many parents don’t get the opportunity to

study so they work hard to lead their kids to study so they work hard to lead their kids to be educated in their lifebe educated in their life

Make their kids study to find good jobs and Make their kids study to find good jobs and be comfortable in their lifebe comfortable in their life

Not to suffer in working in non-skilled jobs.Not to suffer in working in non-skilled jobs. Be proud of their kidsBe proud of their kids Some parents do not interfere with their Some parents do not interfere with their

children’s future therefore their children children’s future therefore their children tend to leave school and start work.tend to leave school and start work.

Did I have any trouble in getting Did I have any trouble in getting and doing what I wanted?and doing what I wanted?

Very difficult decision Very difficult decision Not enough confidenceNot enough confidence Not good EnglishNot good English Different environment in TAFE Different environment in TAFE

and Universityand University Convincing the familyConvincing the family

How do I find the Australian Education How do I find the Australian Education system.system.

Its hard to understand if a person Its hard to understand if a person don’t seek for assistancedon’t seek for assistance

Broad system Broad system Many opportunities Many opportunities New arrivals don’t have the New arrivals don’t have the

knowledge of the different knowledge of the different opportunities that Australia haveopportunities that Australia have

Many people know the clear Many people know the clear Education pathway which is primary Education pathway which is primary school, High school and TAFE/ school, High school and TAFE/ University.University.