I often refer to that week as both
the best and the worst week of my life
The one positive thing that came out of
that experience was Jarath’s interaction
with the paramedics who turned up.
What finally spurred him on to pursue
of community support is something
study was what Jarath describes as the
Jarath finds very important. ‘The people
quarter life crisis he experienced at age
who have helped me the most are those
24. After breaking up with his girlfriend, who can empathise with what you’re
‘Coming from a split home, my
a relationship he describes as negative,
going through and who care. If you
grandfather was the main male role
Jarath also quit his job because he knew can do that for someone else, that’s
model I had growing up’.
his heart wasn’t in it. He didn’t find
something special.’
‘When they showed up that day, they
it fulfilling. It was the combination of
Driven by his passion for helping
were prepared to administer CPR or
these realisations and resulting stress
people and being part of a care-based
oxygen, but instead gave kindness, care that made Jarath face the reality that
community, Jarath actively promotes the
and compassion. I soon realised my
being stuck in his comfort zone was no
work of the Red Cross by donating blood
grandfather wasn’t the patient that, I was.’ longer comfortable, it was painful.
every two weeks, and is currently working
Although that was the day that sparked After completing a bridging course to
with ClubRed25 (Toowoomba) to start a
his interest in paramedicine, after
make sure he could ‘actually handle
blood donor club at USQ Ipswich.
graduating high school Jarath took a
study’, Jarath sold all his stuff and
While he still has a way to go before
gap year, which then turned into 7.
moved to Ipswich the weekend before
starting his professional life as a
While he still advocates that taking
O-Week, to study paramedicine at USQ.
paramedic, Jarath is confident he’s well
a gap year is beneficial, he says it’s
He now lives with 3 other paramedicine
on his way to a fulfilling career. ‘What’s
important to set yourself up for uni first. students and, even though the ages of
that saying, ‘love what you’re doing and
students studying paramedicine at USQ
‘Enrol, accept and defer your degree,
you’ll never work a day in your life’?’
this year range from 17 to 45, he says
because it’s way too hard to go back
there’s no hint of segregation; everyone Find out more about donating blood to
to study once you start working and
the Red Cross by clicking HERE.
is happy to have a chat.
get used to making money. You find
yourself in a comfort zone and it’s hard
to break out of that’.
Coming from Inverell, a small town 3.5
hours away from Toowoomba, this type
WORDS & IMAGES:
EMMA BELL – USQ Alumni