Falling Ill Before Final Exams: Shayegan Abdollahbeigi on Discipline, Engineering and Entrepreneurship

If your child faces a setback right before exams, this is reassurance. A curveball in Year 12 does not have to derail their future. What do you do when life throws a curveball right before your final exams? For Shayegan Abdollahbeigi, a severe illness in Year 12 almost stopped him sitting his exams. With a teacher's encouragement he pushed through and discovered a principle that still guides him: discipline equals freedom. Growing up in Iran before moving to Australia gave him a unique lens on school and opportunity, and his path led him into engineering and entrepreneurship. For parents whose child has hit an unexpected setback, this is an encouraging story about resilience, the power of one encouraging teacher, and building a future on discipline and self-belief. What you’ll discover: • Coping when illness or setback hits before exams • Why discipline equals freedom • The power of one encouraging teacher • Building a path into engineering and entrepreneurship • Resilience when Year 12 doesn't go to plan Because true success isn’t about a score, it’s about systems, values, and the person you become along the way. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at [email protected]! More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.