New mum celebrates graduation with three-week-old daughter

Patrycja Cwalina has completed her accounting degree at Edinburgh Napier University

A new mum has two reasons to celebrate her Edinburgh Napier University graduation – picking up her degree just three weeks after giving birth to her baby daughter!

Student Patrycja Cwalina welcomed her first child, Lydia, into the world on 13 June, and arrived back home in time to discover she had successfully completed her Accounting degree.

Three-week-old Lydia, along with Patrycja’s partner Ryan, was able to celebrate her mum’s achievement at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall today [4 July].

For the 24-year-old, who moved from Lubin in Poland to Edinburgh nearly a decade ago, it marks the end of a whirlwind final year at ENU.

She said: “It was a little bit challenging. Thankfully I didn’t have much morning sickness, but the first three months of my pregnancy did come at the same time as exams!”

“It was stressful, but Lydia made it easy for me.

“I’m so proud of myself that I managed to finish my studies while being pregnant and working.

“I feel like this is my biggest achievement and as hard as it was, I’m really happy I got to experience my final year with my daughter in my womb.

“She gave me strength and I wanted to do the best for her to have better future.”

Patrycja joined hundreds of peers from The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University in celebrating the completion of their studies at the Usher Hall today.

Now she is planning to turn her attention to settling in as a family, with a new graduate job on the horizon.

She added: “I did a placement which led to a job offer, which I’ll start in September.

“That’s what kept me motivated during my final year – that I’d have a few months to enjoy with Lydia, then I can start work.

“I picked Edinburgh Napier because of the enthusiasm of the lecturers – you can tell that they really care about what they’re doing.

“I have had such a great experience here.”