Maria’s life changing university journey

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Maria’s life changing university journey

Tuesday, 10 May 2022

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Maria Louisa Daniele, who graduates from a Bachelor of Commerce with a Marketing major mid-2022, is an inspiration and a role model to her children, as well as to anyone who aspires to create better opportunities for themselves and their families.

Back in 2014, newly separated, working at Crown and with two young daughters to care for, Maria made the courageous decision to embark on a path to a better future through education.

She started with ECU’s university preparation course which she did part time around work and her children. Success saw her continue part time study in the International Hotel and Resort Management course. She chose that course as she was already working in the industry and felt it would be useful to upskill.

However, when she did her first Marketing unit, her lecturer identified that marketing was her strength and guided her to switch to the Marketing major.

She did prove to be very talented, was awarded ECU scholarships later in her studies and thrived in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) part of the course.

As she explains ‘in the summer break before my final year, I completed a Work Placement Business Practicum unit and was placed with CPB Contractors, a construction and mining company, which was right out of my comfort zone, however it was the best experience ever’.

My host and the company eased me back into an office environment which I’d been out of since 2006. On the last day of my work placement, I was offered to stay on as a casual until I finish my degree. When I finished, they encouraged me apply for the internship as they would love me to work full-time.

All I can say is that Edith Cowan University has been one of the most positive, loyal, and educational growth and learning experiences I have ever had in my life’.

Maria said ‘the lecturers and work placement coordinators were helpful, supportive, and encouraging.

‘Edith Cowan University was transformational for me. I’m the first in my family of siblings to attend university. Best of all I have shown my two daughters that it is never too late to learn, grow, stretch yourself and at the same time enjoy and have fun with your journey’.

School of Business and Law