Studying the SACE | Your SACE journey | Student Stories | Hyacinthe Ipassou
Selfless sacrifice pays off for Hyacinthe
Friday 10 January 2020
The personal sacrifices made by selfless Hyacinthe Ipassou have paid off after she completed her SACE.
Studying the SACE | Your SACE journey | Student Stories | Hyacinthe Ipassou | Article
Hyacinthe arrived from Africa in 2010 with her grandparents, aunt, younger brother and cousin, while her parents are living in America.
In recent years, the 18-year-old from Nazareth Catholic College has had to juggle the demands of her SACE with caring for her sick grandmother and holding down a job at Coles to support her family.
But thanks to Hyacinthe’s sheer determination and the support of her school – she has successfully navigated these demands to achieve her SACE.
“Life has been very hectic, I’ve had a lot of responsibilities at home, looking after my grandmother and her needs,” Hyacinthe said
“Completing the SACE is so important to me, my family have made a lot of sacrifices for me and I didn’t want to let my grandparents down.
“My school have been great, I have been staying in touch with my teachers and they have helped me to be flexible with my studies and work at Coles.”
Hyacinthe studied Essential English, Health, Nutrition, and Religion Studies during her SACE journey.
Her Research Project examined mental health in Africa and how people try to hide their illness from others.
“When I was in Year 12 I was struggling and down, and I know a lot of Africans have mental health issues, which is why I chose this topic. I learnt about the importance of talking about our mental health issues.
“After the Research Project I learned a lot about myself and why we need to ask for help if we are struggling. Before the Research Project I was very shy but now I have so much more confidence.
“My advice to students going through mental health issues is to talk about it with your friends or teachers.”
Virginia Grantham, SACE Coordinator at Nazareth Catholic College, said: “Hyacinthe had to juggle so many different commitments this year yet was determined to successfully complete her SACE.
“She used the flexibilities of the certificate to complete her education while maintaining her family and work commitments.”
A passionate sportswoman, Hyacinthe is planning to go to TAFE to study a Certificate III in Fitness.