AS HSC results were released around the state last month Nerissa Stewart was back in Cooma for some much needed rest and relaxation with her family before embarking on a three year PhD in History at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Miss Stewart grew up in Cooma and attended St Patrick's Parish School until grade three before moving to Wagga Wagga.
She has just completed her honours thesis on Aboriginal black power, graduating with first class honours testament to the dedication and hard she work put in to get there.
Miss Stewart even embarked on a trip to Melbourne to find resources for the topic. Now the 22-year-old has set her sights even higher.
"I'd like to be a lecturer in History and maybe work overseas," she said.
"Cambridge University would be nice, it's only one of the top three universities in the world."
Miss Stewart decided on the honours thesis topic after taking an Australian History subject in her final year of undergraduate studies.
During her studies Miss Stewart found that the government of the day only saw the violent nature of black power and treated it as a minority group.
"Even though not many people know there was black power it was very important to a lot of Aboriginal activists in the late 60s and early 70s," she said.
"Black power really succeeded in setting up Aboriginal health and legal systems in Redfern, which in turn forced the government to look at improving the situation."
The budding young historian also had a guest appearance on Quakers Oral History program in Canberra recently.
"People think that history can't be a career, but that's not the case if you're passionate about it.
"It's a lot of studying and years of hard work, but there are jobs out there in History,” she said.
Miss Stewart graduated on Friday December 12 with her proud mum Anne Stewart looking on, as well as, her aunty Heather Stewart and grandfather Roger Sands.
"She only had three tickets so it was hard to decide who would make the trip to Canberra to watch her graduate," Mrs Stewart said.
"But it was a very proud moment for us all we're all very proud of this little girl."
Miss Stewart had some advice to offer those who have just completed their HSC.
"Any degree will help you in life, employers want people who can write well and express themselves - any degree will give you that," Miss Stewart said.
"Apply for anything, get your foot in the door, find out what you want to do, then you can change degree or change universities."