The easy way out just doesn't exist for a single mother-of-five who will complete her TAFE course in Wodonga this week.
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Just one assessment stands in the way of Jessica Ray and her certificate IV in photo imaging.
Miss Ray was one of more than 150 creative and design students from Wodonga TAFE to put together the Kaleidoscope exhibition.
The free community event will be held at The Cube from 6pm Thursday.
Miss Ray enrolled in the full-time course at the beginning of the year with three children, Madi, 8, Oscar, 5, and Leo, 3, and the knowledge she was pregnant with twins.
In her initial meeting with teachers she said she would need time off during the course but was determined to see it through until the end.
“I told them it would be a bit rocky, but they said they thought I'd be able to do it,” Miss Ray said.
“Looking back, I have no idea how I managed to do it.
“I just worked at odd times, so when other people were sleeping I had insomnia and I'd be doing my work.”
Miss Ray was back in class just two weeks after the birth of her twins, Lonnie and Jake, on July 27.
And for one final challenge, she worked with her children to come up with an extra special display for the Kaleidoscope exhibition.
“I didn't choose to put up work I had already done, I chose to do a separate shoot altogether, just for something different,” she said.
“I've done an Alice in Wonderland theme with my kids.
“Madi was Alice, Oscar and Leo were the Cheshire Cat and Mad Hatter and I was the Red Queen.
“My kids have been an inspiration for me, initially I didn't really want to photograph children but my style has changed a lot.
“They are always around too and ready to dress-up.
“I also made all my own costumes - the easy way is boring.”
Miss Ray's classmates will also have work in the show alongside fashion, interior design, sound production, graphic design, digital media, visual arts and building design students.
There will be fashion runways, a red carpet entry finger food and a DJ.
Costumes and day wear to creative artwork will be on display until 9.30pm.
Interior design teacher Belinda Papas said the night would showcase work to the community, prospective students and industry professionals.
“The students basically have a door frame each at the exhibition to sum up their year,” she said.
“They have all worked really hard to get here and, in the past, we have had students gain employment opportunities from the night.”
