By Alesha Capone
Truganina teenager Sameer Khan is hoping to become a doctor after overcoming a serious illness to achieve outstanding VCE results.
The 18-year-old, who completed year 12 at Werribee Secondary College last year, achieved an ATAR score of 99.45 (out of a possible 99.95).
Mr Khan said he had been offered several university scholarships and was hoping to study medicine at Monash University.
“I have always wanted to be a doctor, but my experience of being in hospital intensified it,” he said.
At the end of year 10, Mr Khan developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. The rare disorder caused much of Mr Khan’s skin to blister and peel, forming “erosions” resembling severe burns to his arms and torso.
He was admitted to the ICU of the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he was placed on life support and spent two weeks in a coma.
He underwent two surgeries, one of which lasted eight hours, and spent a week wrapped in a full-body bandage as his skin healed.
Mr Khan said he had become more determined to experience all life has to offer.
At Werribee Secondary last year he was a house captain, chief editor of the student newspaper, vice-captain of the college cricket team and also played cricket for Altona North.
He said that his friends and family, including his younger sister Sazia, had been a “great support” during his illness and VCE studies.
He also said that “a lot of credit” for his VCE success belonged to two of his teachers, Robert Campbell and Regina Miller.
Fellow student Mohammad Naghdi – who achieved an ATAR score of 99.9 – was also a great support, along with friends Navid and Tanzin.
