Health Sciences' students graduate
Posted on 17 July 2015
Professor attended his first graduation ceremony as Head of Department and presented some 35 degrees to graduating students from a number of different courses. Among recipients was Tina Gale who was awarded a BSc in Health and Social Care Practice.
Tina explained that her studies went a little "awry" after she fell pregnant and then went into premature labour. Thankfully both the birth of her daughter, Scarlett, and her studies went extremely well. Following the birth, Tina opted to take a year out from her part-time course but went on to secure a First in health and social care when she completed it.
“I went back a full year,” she said. “At first I panicked that I wouldn’t get my dissertation done once I restarted, but I did. My tutor was amazing, from the moment I rang her when my daughter was born in hospital and all throughout the time my dissertation was on hold. She regularly contacted me.”
She said the University of York was “brilliant” as she juggled motherhood, finishing her dissertation and continuing to work as a nurse in a hospice.
"I couldn’t fault it. The support was there. There was no pushing me, it was always ‘when you are ready come back," she said. "The student experience was a bit different for me. I was a mum, I was working and I had to commute from my home in Scarborough."
Tina, 40, is a clinical nurse specialist, providing education and support for care home residents at the end of life.
"I’m very busy. I work 30 hours a week, four days a week and obviously I’m a mum seven days a week, but I love it and knowing that I have got my degree will help me progress my career."