For Christine, completing her MA in English Literature at Ulster University has been a journey of growth and rediscovery. Having lived and travelled away from home for many years, she was drawn to Ulster University for the diversity and relevance of its course modules, as well as the opportunity to stay close to home and her family. She explained:
“I wanted to challenge myself and stay connected to our rapidly changing world,”
Christine’s 16 years of living, studying, volunteering and working across countries including Italy, Argentina, the USA, Brazil, Germany and the Czech Republic shaped not only her worldview but also her sense of identity. Learning multiple languages, Czech, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, German and some Italian, became central to how she connected with people and cultures. A Czech saying she loves, “as many languages you know, as many times a human being,” reflects her belief that language deepens our capacity to understand and appreciate different ways of life.
Reintegrating into local culture after so much time abroad left her apprehensive that she might feel lost in discussions. Returning to Northern Ireland became an important part of grounding herself again, reconnecting with her roots, and introducing her son to her home nation. But Christine overcame these obstacles by channelling the support of her lecturers and peers, acknowledging the benefit of international experience in contemporary debates, and applying herself to all aspects of the course.
Her time at Ulster was defined by the people she met and the inspiration she drew from her lecturers, whom she credits with giving her the confidence to find her voice and to whom she wishes to say a heartfelt thank you. One of her proudest moments came when she received feedback on her dissertation and realised she had achieved what she had set out to do.
As a mature student and parent, Christine often studied with her son beside her – a shared routine that made all the hard work feel worthwhile. She said:
“Some evenings we’d both be sitting there with our books open, and now he’s got this lovely affinity for reading that I’m really proud of. Juggling study with family life and a full-on job wasn’t always easy, but my family and my lecturers were so understanding – they genuinely kept me going. And having lived in different countries, I’ve become really aware of how people, cultures and histories can be shown in different lights, sometimes fairly and sometimes not. That experience gave me a perspective I carried into all my academic work and reminded me why it matters to tell people’s stories with care.”
Looking ahead, Christine hopes to pursue a PhD in English Literature. Encouraged by her dissertation supervisor to publish her work, she is eager to continue exploring areas such as postcolonial disaster studies, Armenian poetry and Caribbean writing.
Graduating on the same day as her younger brother makes the milestone especially meaningful. She said:
“It means a whole lot. My brother deserves it so much and I am so proud of him.”
To other parents or mature students considering higher education, Christine offers reassurance:
“The dream of returning to higher education is possible. With the right course, there is network building, skill acquisition, and time available to invest in your own growth. You know yourself that you are more than capable of anything challenging or demanding, and you deserve the opportunity. I would say that finding a way to incorporate your child or children into the learning experience can make it all worthwhile.”
Christine remains deeply grateful for her lecturers who guided and supported her after a period of significant change.
“I would like people to know that the lecturers teaching the MA in English Literature at UU are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met, and it was an absolute pleasure to learn from them. It is most appreciated… You have forever inspired me.”
