Štefka Kustec from Črenšovci

Nominated by: Lilijana Grof, Franc Miklošič General Upper Secondary School, Ljutomer

"Because I was made redundant, I returned to sit my matura after all these years. I'm not someone who waits for solutions that are never going to appear on their own," says Štefka Kustec, top of her class in Črenšovci, in the Ona magazine (27 July 2010). After losing her job in textile firm Mura, and following careful thought, she decided to fulfil her childhood ambition and enrol in the Preschool Education secondary-school programme. She graduated top of her class and was awarded the title of preschool educator.

Her determination and dedication, together with the support of her family, helped her to overcome many barriers to achieving her goal. While in education, she was rehired by the 'new' Mura, greatly increasing her weekly workload. Apart from caring for her family and creating a new home, her weekends were mostly given over to learning. She had no spare time. She got up at 4:30 in the morning, and at the end of the week would return home late in the evening, after her classes. But she succeeded, and with distinction! She got the maximum possible marks in the matura, thereby becoming one of the top students of 2010.

Štefka is an example to many people - her son and her colleagues in Mura. Many of them have chosen a similar path. During her schooling, she enjoyed helping her classmates, encouraging and persuading them that, like her, they can complete the programme. But success to her meant not only satisfactory grades, but also excellent knowledge.

Today she wants to change jobs as soon as possible to become a preschool educator, a role for which she has trained. She's considering continuing her schooling in a higher-education professional programme. We are convinced that once again she will find the path to achieving her goal.