STEPS - Library - Central Queensland University

Part Four: Student transformations
With hindsight, I probably did not want to admit I was also damaged goods
— that I was unsure of myself. The development I made in the 13-week
period of the STEPS program allowed me to finally deal with a lot of
demons that I thought were going to prevent me from achieving academic
success. Indeed, I bloomed. I was so glad to rid myself of the ignorant
shackles that I carried with me for almost 20 years that I became a model
undergraduate student.
In 2004, I topped my University program in my first year. In fact, I topped
the entire Faculty of Arts, Health and Science at my campus. There was no
prouder man on this earth when I received formal recognition, surprising
this high school dropout and underachiever. And there is no clearer
connection than that between my renewed academic success and the
wisdom dispersed during the life-changing term spent in the STEPS
program.
The limits of my potential are still not known, but I now know how to get
there and am forever grateful for the insights shared with me through the
STEPS program.
James Ukena
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