Graduation Tales: Mum And Daughter Prove It’s Never Too Late

HAVING one person graduating from university is usually good enough reason for a family celebration, but one Rhymney family has a double reason to raise a glass this summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gillian Davies Evans, 54, who lives in Rhymney, and her daughter Claire Moseley, 33, who lives in Tredegar, have both just completed studying at the University of South Wales, and have proved that it’s never too late to return to studying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Grandmother Gillian, a support and business analyst for the NHS Wales Informatics Service – which supports and develops Hospital and Primary Technical Systems for the whole of Wales – has just completed a three-year Masters Course in HR Management. She also has a son, John, 31, who lives with his family in Dubai and works in the aerospace sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, Claire has just graduated with a 2:1 class BA (Hons) Primary Studies with QTS degree. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Getting qualifications to become a teacher has been a major achievement from mum-of-two Claire, who’s been juggling running a home with fiancé Graham and two children – Lola, eight, and Joe, 12 – studying, and ensuring that Lola’s health is looked after. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Lola was born with Fallots Tetralagy and had a four-hour open heart surgery when she was eight months old, which resolved some problems but not all, and she requires ongoing yearly check-ups,” Claire explained. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“So, after she was born, I gave up work and put any ideas of a career on the backburner to make sure she and the family had my undivided attention.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, after having worked in a variety of jobs after finishing school – including as a travel agent and NHS ward clerk – and taken the time to look after her family, Claire decided she wanted to give studying and a career a go. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When Lola started school full time, I decided I wanted to go back to work and be a teacher,” Claire said. “I started by doing an Access to Higher Education course at the Learning Zone in Ebbw Vale, and from there went on to do my degree at the University of South Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And the decision to wait until she was a bit older has worked well for Claire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I wasn’t ready to do this at 21,” she said. “And having children gives you a reason to study. I was ready for it when I got a bit older.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Claire and Gillian did, however, have a similar challenges when it came to studying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was doing my course part time and in the evening,” Gillian said. “So, sometimes, it could be difficult to get yourself motivated. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But the great support I had from my husband Gareth, my fellow cohort and lecturer Terry Driscoll made a massive difference. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“And I always wanted to show my children that it’s never too late to study, and encourage them to take any chances they are offered.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Claire, who is now doing supply teaching to gain some wider experience of the profession, added: “That said, the tutors didn’t treat you any differently because you had other responsibilities outside your studies. If you had any issues, they’d help you sort them, but everyone had to work hard to get their qualifications. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m so glad I returned to study and got the degree I needed. I’m really looking forward to starting my career and settling into the classroom.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​