Susan Eardly, who excelled in her MBA, was awarded the Graduation certificate recently by the Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia. She followed the course at the Australian College of Business and Technology (ACBT), in Colombo 3, Sri Lanka, under the guidance of a professional and supportive panel of lecturers.

Ms Colleen Kent the principal of ACBT awarding the graduation certificate

She was educated at Holy Family Convent Kurunegala; as her father took a transfer to work for one of the JEDB's estate in Kurunegala merely to educate his children. "I thank my parents for taking this move merely to educate my sister, brother and myself which took us a long way in our career lives," says Susan.

Master's in Business Administration at ACBT College in Sri Lanka
"I set a plan for myself to continue with my higher studies while I was working". She says. My parents did their best to bring my sister, brother and myself upto high school level. "At that time I wished; I would be fortunate to complete my studies and then start work, but now with all my past experience, I think I took the best decision to continue my studies after getting some working life exposure.

Battling between heavy work schedules, family life challenges, friends and social life, I decided to join ACBT to start my MBA in 2008. The principal Ms Colleen Kent's warm welcome was an encouragement to me. I did my undergraduate course at The Association of Business Executives, UK (ABE) College under their local affiliate.

I was very nervous when I started the course at ACBT in 2008 and wondered if I could handle the MBA course with all the commitments and challenges I was facing then. My first lecturer at ACBT was Mr Jeyarajeswaren. During the first few weeks in College I was totally lost and couldn't even understand what the examiner was looking out from the students. I was like a fish out of water"; she says.

After a few weeks of following the course, I went to Mr. Jeyaraj and said, "sir, I cannot follow this programme; I'm quitting". I guess I was in a kind of cultural shock. First of all I wish to thank God for giving me the strength and courage to at least inform Mr. Jeyaraj that I'm quitting. He questioned me on all the five Ws and then said "NO" don't give up; I will help you". This triggered my confidence level and gave me the strength and courage to continue the course. Then I started building confidence by attending classes daily and taking down notes of whatever the lecturer said. My group friends used to bully me for taking down everything said by the lecturer, but this helped me a lot. A big thank you and my gratitude to Sir Jeyaraj.

Mr. Jeyaraj's coaching at the beginning and his continuous encouragements (I have got blasted from him during his coaching period, but I took it positively), restless nights, re-doing the assignments and coping with my work and family life was really hectic. However all the hard work; the wisdom God gave me, support of my beloved parents, the college, lectures and my team friends, led me to succeed in the MBA in January, 2010 ; marking an important milestone in my life; at one of the best Australian Universities in Australia through the local college ACBT; she added.