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Stephen Drill
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A SOMALI refugee who topped her class with a score of 95.15 says she is living proof people can achieve anything - with a little help from friends.
Sada Nor, 17, was dux of Footscray City College and has earned a place in the Bachelor of Optometry course at Melbourne University.
The Braybrook teenager, one of seven children, fled her war-torn homeland with some of her family when she was two years old and settled in New Zealand before moving to Australia in 2001. Her mother and three other siblings still live in Somalia.
She shares a bedroom with a sister and studied at her local library because it was quieter than home.
The Smith Family has paid for Sada's books and other school expenses since 2004.
Sada said she hoped she would be an inspiration to other refugees and people from tough backgrounds.
"Anything is possible if you are willing to put in the hard yards," she said.
To help other students, visit: www.thesmithfamily.com.au/sponsor