SHE juggled her studies with nursing and mothering duties.

Madam Susila Perumal, 41, another graduate of the SIM-University of Sydney nursing programme, has four children aged between 7 and 17.

She has been a nurse since she was 23 and her ambition was to be a university graduate.

But the two-year duration of her degree programme was tough. At one point in 2006, while she was studying for her exams, one of her sons was studying for his O levels and one of her daughters was doing her PSLE.

But the energetic woman, who also volunteers at her community club, not only made it through, she also got the Excellent Service Award two years running, in 2006 and 2007.

She credits her husband, a property officer at a polytechnic, as her "motivator", and her supervisors at work, who have been supportive.

For example, her nursing managers allowed her to take leave during her exams and worked the roster around her lecture schedule.

With a degree in hand and equipped with more managerial skills, Madam Susila is looking forward to new challenges at work.

But more than that, she added, it is the appreciation and the "thank yous" she gets from her patients that keep her going.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 14, 2008.