However, Carol went on to give birth to two more baby girls during her Masters – in February 2022 and July 2023 – which made her days even more challenging. 

She says: “During the studying I had three girls under three years old and it was quite challenging to juggle breastfeeding and sleepless nights and studying and everything that goes along with it! Especially since the last two pregnancies were unplanned - it was quite a shock.” 

Carol is clearly made of strong stuff and even tried to get back to her books on the maternity ward: “I can remember when I had just given birth to Ariya in February, I had essays due. Ariya was only a couple of hours old and the nurse had wheeled me to the recovery ward. When she came round to me and saw I was on a laptop explaining that I had an assignment due, she nearly slapped me, so I had to put the laptop away!” 

She reflected upon how, despite the huge challenges she faced, her mentor inspired her to keep going with her Masters: “After the birth, I was thinking how am I going to juggle a newborn baby and finish this Degree? But Queen’s had hooked me up with a mentor who was very encouraging and it turned out that, in her journey into law, she had three children under three too, so she give me the confidence that this is achievable with the right determination.” 

Carol is keen to encourage other mature students and those with dependents that it is possible to get through: “I do want to encourage others who may be mature students or who have family commitments and may be feeling worried that returning to education is not achievable for them. I did feel like that at one point in the Masters when I found out I was pregnant with Ariya. I said to one of the students beside me ‘I’m pregnant’ and he said 'Not again lol.'  

“And now am I graduating with two more beautiful babies than when I first started the Masters and I honestly could not be happier and so pleased with my whole experience at Queen's.” 

 

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