Graduation, Wedding, Christmas And A Honeymoon ... Parisa Crams A Lifetime Into 11 Days
Illawarra Mercury
Monday December 22, 2003
PARISA Abolhasan's wedding was the only thing on her mind on Saturday, despite a week where the big event was overshadowed on more than one occasion.
Parisa wed her long-time love Brad Glass in the rose garden at Wollongong Botanic Garden.
It was the climax of an extraordinary week for the 32-year-old.
On Tuesday Parisa graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Doctorate in Biomedical Science and on Thursday she received her Masters in Business Administration.
``It was an awesome week. I'm so tired now," she said yesterday.
``Graduation was a big relief - I have done it, achieved what I wanted to achieve.
``Weddings are always stressful so I had to put the wedding out of my head and try not to think about it until the graduations were over."
The huge week may have been too much pressure for some, but Parisa has overcome far more trying circumstances.
When she was 14 Parisa's family, who were from Iran and members of the persecuted Baha'i faith, walked into exile.
The family lived in Pakistan for a year before arriving in Australia.
Parisa dedicated herself at school and went on to do a Diploma of Applied Science and then a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry, before beginning her doctorate and her MBA.
With a little thing called Christmas on Thursday, Parisa and Brad will wait until Friday to leave for their honeymoon.
``We're going to Vanuatu. I'm told it's very relaxing, which is what we both need," she said.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury