Wigan mum and daughter graduate together on same day
A mum and daughter duo from Wigan are celebrating an extra-special achievement as they both graduated from the same university course on the same day.
Three years ago, 52-year-old teaching assistant Stephanie Kennedy was accompanying her excited daughter Mia on university open days.
The experience inspired her to revisit a long-held idea of returning to education herself and a visit to Edge Hill University in Ormskirk convinced her it was finally the right time to take the plunge.
Much like the premise of the movie Life of the Party, where Melissa McCarthy's character goes back to college with her daughter, Stephanie and Mia have navigated the ups and downs of campus life together.
Stephanie said: “As a working mother of three daughters, I had always postponed doing things for myself. I have never believed in myself much and my confidence in academic learning was low.
“When we started attending university open days with my eldest daughter, the idea was planted. I began to dream about studying for a degree myself. Years later, a lovely Edge Hill staff member and neighbour told me about the University’s Fastrack course which could help make my dream possible.
“And then going to all the course presentations and campus tours at Edge Hill with Mia confirmed that desire to prove to myself that I could do it too.”
When Mia, now 21, and her mum attended Dr Shaun Liverpool's presentation on Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing, they both knew they had found their course.
“Mum gives so much to her family and never does anything for herself, and I knew going to university was something she always wanted to do,” said Mia, who, with her dad Mike, encouraged Stephanie to apply.
Stephanie completed Edge Hill’s Fastrack programme – a short, intensive, free course to help mature students prepare for a return to education – in 2022, which Stephanie described as the “most intense and hardest six weeks of my life, but it provided me with the foundation and confidence I needed to succeed.”
Mum and daughter shared the commute from Wigan to Ormskirk, taking turns to drive, as well as sharing their academic journey.
Mia said: “My mum would always have questions to ask in class and at home and would constantly remind me of deadlines.
"We didn't check each other's work or help with assignments, as we both had different ways of studying. My mum loved studying more than me.”
When Stephanie began the course, she enjoyed support from her friends on the Fastrack programme.
But as time passed, they went their separate ways and Stephanie found a new home with Mia’s friends. She thrived with them, earning the affectionate nickname Mama Hen.
Mia, who was delighted to achieve a 2:1 in BSc (Hons) child and adolescent mental health and well-being, said: “Being on the same course as my own mum made the experience so special and unique.”
Mia will return to Edge Hill in September to do a PGCE in primary education with QTS.
Stephanie, who earned a first on the same course, said: “This has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but it’s been worth every second. To anyone who has doubts like I did, age is no barrier – you are never too old, as I once thought.
“And to say my close student friends ranged from 21 to 50 proves we are all in it together, it is achievable, it is possible, if you want it, go and get it!”