AFTER a horrific horse riding accident left her unable to walk, one St Martins Lutheran College student was unsure if she would ever finish high school.
Graduating Year 12 as dux with an ATAR of 97.6, Sally Bond celebrated yesterday alongside fellow college high achievers Cayla Willsmore (88.85), Charlotte Smith (88.7) and Jade Delaney (88.5).
Despite her impressive mark, Sally’s dreams of becoming a lawyer were almost dashed four years ago when she severely broke her femur while horse riding.
Emergency surgery to insert a metal rod in her leg led to her developing complex regional pain syndrome, a nerve disorder rated as the worst pain on the McGill University Pain Index.
The injury left her bed ridden, unable to walk and on high doses of pain medication.
“When I was at my lowest of lows I did not even think I would get back to school,” she said.
“My doctors said I might not walk again and they told me unless I got the pain under control there would be no way I could go back to school.
“That hit me really hard and gave me the motivation I needed to get back there.”
Eventually Sally made it back to the St Martins campus after physiotherapy and strength training, but missed Year 10 entirely and more than half of her Year 11 studies.
This meant she was unable to graduate with her class, but her determination did not waiver.
“The pain is still there and it still impacts my every day life,” she said.
“But I wanted to be back at school … I had to push myself harder than I ever have.
“Growing up I was always academic and focused on my studies, so thinking I might not get there really shook me.”
During Year 11, Sally only attended one or two classes of her chosen subjects instead of the usual five or six due to her pain.
This continued into Year 12, where she attended school part-time.
“I had to learn how to take what I was learning in class back home and do my studies there as well,” she said.
“Self-directed learning was difficult to get used to, but I had such great help from my teachers I knew I could do it.
“I think they have always had a focus on supporting students individually as well as in a class and helping them learn the way that suits them best.”
When it came time for her final exams recently, Sally said she was nervous but confident.
“Exams were definitely a stressful time, but I knew I needed an ATAR over 95 so I did everything I could to get there,” she said.
“I had to push myself, but I knew my limits and did not want to get overwhelmed with it all.
“I tried to stay consistent throughout the year and manage my workload as I went so I was not doing a whole lot of study in the final moments.”
Sally’s score of 97.6 guarantees her a place at university studying a double degree in law and accounting in 2021, which she hopes she can combine into a future career.
“I remember when I was so young … I would always say to my parents being a lawyer was what I wanted to do and now I am on the path to do just that,” she said.
“Maths is also one of my favourite subjects, so I hope one day to be a lawyer with a finance focus or something similar.”
But for the next 12 months, Sally will take a gap year from study and turn her focus onto getting her pony, Bridey, to show at an elite level.
“I hope to train her up to that level and qualify for the South Australian team for nationals,” she said.
“I think I will also pick up some work doing reception at my parents’ chiropractic business which will all keep me pretty busy.”
