Graduation 2016: Lecturer Enjoys Special Graduation Day With Eight-Week Old Son

Graduating in front of her eight-week old son capped a memorable year for a sports psychology lecturer from Ireland. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

38-year-old Ciara Losty completed a Doctor of Health Sciences in Psychology at Wrexham Glyndwr University while pregnant with her son Seanán. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Seanán was born just eight weeks ago and was in the audience when his mum collected her degree in the William Aston Hall on Wednesday October 26. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ciara studied for the degree part-time alongside her full-time work a lecturer in applied sport and exercise psychology at Waterford Institute of Technology, attending residential study weekends at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ciara said: “Completing my doctorate and having my first child means 2016 is a year I won’t forget. It’s just magic that I get to share my graduation with him and my family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Looking back, I’ve learnt so much about myself in the process as well. Studying for a doctorate is a marathon – it takes a lot of perseverance and mental toughness. It’s true grit and team work but thanks to having the right tutors and support system it’s also been an enjoyable process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I decided to study with Wrexham Glyndwr University as there are no similar-type professional doctorates on offer in Ireland. My background is in sports science and the structure of the programme was a good fit for me academically and personally. Commuting from Ireland to Wales proved to be very manageable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I really enjoyed my time studying. I don’t think it’s over for me and I can see myself collaborating or studying with the university again in future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ciara was one of hundreds of students to collect their degree across six ceremonies at Wrexham Glyndwr University this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Honorary fellowships were also being awarded to six individuals for outstanding contributions to their industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh Olympian Colin Jackson collected an honorary fellowship in the same ceremony as Ciara on Wednesday afternoon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: “For many graduation day is their final day at university as they go on to the next chapter in their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We hope that we have played an important part in helping them on the path to their chosen careers, and though they will be leaving us they’ll always be a part of the Wrexham Glyndwr family.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​