A SOUTH Belfast Open University graduate has managed to complete a degree, in between working full-time, and looking after her young child who was born right in the middle of exam season. Sara Gunn, who hails from the Ormeau Road, and works for arts organisation Audiences NI, received her BA Honours degree in Media Studies at last week’s graduation ceremony in Belfast’s Waterfront hall, where almost 200 proud graduates received their certificates.
However, while most students today experience late nights, Sara wasn’t being kept awake during her studies by partying, rather by the demands of a newborn baby.
“I had to juggle working full-time, studying, and taking care of my son who was born last June, right in the middle of when I was trying to complete an online project, three coursework assignments, and an exam,” she explained.
“However, thanks to the support from the OU right through to the end, I managed to complete my degree.”
The ceremony was also attended by Higher Education Minister Stephen Farry, who said: “The higher education sector helps to meet the skills needs of the economy through the provision of high quality graduates; through upskilling and reskilling the current and future workforce; through the pursuit of excellence in research and development, knowledge transfer and university-business collaboration.”
