Persistence makes change for Lizzy Scott.
Diagnosed with an intellectual disability in primary school, and Level 2 Autism and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) last year, Lizzy is always keen to give things a go – especially when animals are involved.
“I feel really happy and calm because I’m in my own space, doing what I love the most, which is hanging out with animals,” she said.
“Animals are a lot easier than humans.”
Her everlasting love for animals encouraged Lizzy to complete a Certificate II in Animal Studies during high school and she dreams of becoming a vet nurse.
“I’m really interested in that because Mum’s a wildlife carer and she deals with all of these animals,” Lizzy said.
“I want to hopefully try and get a job in a vet clinic so I can work on becoming a vet nurse.”
Through doing her certificate under UQ Skills, Lizzy was also the Darling Downs South West regional winner for Equality Student of the Year.
She is currently training her rescue dog Jakira, which she adopted from a Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), to become her assistance dog in the future.
The adoption was meant to be as Jakira was placed in the shelter the same day that Lizzy came to visit.
“It was awesome that she trusted me enough to roll on her stomach. They roll on their stomach when they trust,” she said.
“I have FND, so non-epileptic seizures – I want her to be there to help me out with them because they’re really not fun.”
“By the end of next year, she should be able to go out into the public,” Lizzy added.
Her interest in animals extends past her personal life as she went to Beaudesert State High School and was part of the school’s Show Team, where they show and care for cattle.
She is also quite fond of the Beaudesert Show, as Lizzy entered the Junior Rural Ambassador competition for the last three years.
“I think Mum enrolled me in it first, and then after that, I loved it because you get to be with all different types of animals.”
“You get to tie the ribbons around the horses and do rotations– you also get free food,” she joked.
Lizzy worked for a local horse stud in Rathdowney for a few months and is now looking for another job taking care of animals.
“I just want to give it a go. I understand that there are limits to what I can do and what I can’t do,” she said.
“I just want someone to give me a go, because, at the moment, everyone’s rejecting me.”
Lizzy has received endless words of support throughout the years; she’s just waiting for those words to turn into actions.
