“Don’t give up on your dreams. It’s never too late or too old to fulfill them. Just be happy, be yourself, and follow your heart. Push a little every day, and before you know it, you’ll cross that finish line.”

For Laiser, the dream of becoming a police officer started back in 1994, when she was just a Year 10 student. Life took her on many different paths, but that spark never faded. Now, as a mother of three energetic boys (ages 9, 8, and 4), Laiser has reignited her passion and is pursuing a University Certificate in Workforce Essentials with the goal of becoming a police officer in NSW.

While balancing her studies and family life, she sought a quiet place to study and visited the Griffith City Library to inquire about booking a study room. There, a helpful council staff member pointed her towards the Country Universities Centre Western Riverina, where she found resources and support that helped her stay on track. Her support network included fellow students, the CUC Griffith team, friends, family, Mark and Renee at Anytime Fitness, and leaders from Verity Christian College and the Samoan Assembly of God. Most of all, she drew inspiration and motivation from her three boys, who kept her going even on the hardest days.

After graduation, Laiser plans to work locally as a police officer and continue her studies with the ambition of one day becoming a detective.