La Trobe University graduate who dropped out of secondary college lands dream job

Desiree Crandell was among 91 La Trobe University students and graduates who were honoured with prizes and scholarships on Monday night at the Ulumbarra Theatre.

Ms Crandell received the Bank First initial teacher education prize, which is awarded to the student who gets the highest overall weighted average mark for a foundation year in the bachelor of early childhood education.

Her passion for teaching was kindled by a work experience placement at a kindergarten, which she took on just before dropping out of secondary college.

"I loved it, but they said if I wanted to do it (work in kindergartens) I would have to do more school. I'd had enough of school by then," Ms Crandell said.

She had a range of jobs in retail as well as a cleaning business, before she decided to make a career shift in her 30s.

"I just got to that point where I decided that was not what I wanted to do," Ms Crandell.

"I really wanted to work with children. I had a couple of teacher-friends who said I should give it a crack, so I entered as a mature age student."

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Ms Crandell "loved" her time at La Trobe, which had provided a lot of support and encouragement.

So had friends and her biggest cheerleaders, her children Declan and Adalia. The single mother was the first member of her family to complete a university degree.

Ms Crandell finished classes in 2018 and took a job at Bendigo Special Developmental School.

"It's a fairy tale come true," she said.

Meanwhile, bachelor of business (accounting) graduate Irina Reynolds was recognised by La Trobe and CPA Australia for topping her second and third year accountancy classes - all of which she completed in one semester.

"I had to get special permission to do that ... which they gave me. I was really grateful for that because I have two kids, so I realised I had to finish uni as quickly as possible," she said.

Mrs Reynolds juggled university and family life with work.

She put her achievements down to planning and a love of her subjects.

"And obviously my husband really helped," she said.

"When the kids went to bed, instead of watching TV I would hit the books and do the quizzes.

"So my evenings were uni, and my weekends were uni. But I knew it was going to finish at some point. You get to the exam, you pass it and that's it, it's history then."

Mrs Reynolds finished her classes in 2018 and is now working at Bendigo Health.

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