The University of Cumbria honoured its Spirit of Cumbria award winner for 2023 during a graduation ceremony at Carlisle Cathedral on Thursday morning.
Lizzie Molloy, a mature student, would take home the prize after her inspirational six-year journey, which culminated in her earning her law degree earlier this week.
Mrs Molloy has overcome a number of challenges during her time on the course, with her husband Stuart undergoing five separate brain surgeries, while her daughter is currently being diagnosed with autism.
Lizzie's mother, who lives in the south of France, is also suffering from cancer and the prize-winner ensured that she bought her graduation gown so that they can take pictures together on the other side of the channel.
Despite all those tribulations, Mrs Molloy was able to celebrate on a beautiful morning in Carlisle and paid tribute to the staff at the university for helping her persevere in her goal of becoming a solicitor, as she hopes to be able to assist her husband to officially adopt her daughter.
She said: "It’s a day that’s been long coming. It’s taken longer than usual. I’ve been here for six years instead of four. Covid has got a lot to answer for.
"It was very nerve-wracking, but the tutors have been absolutely amazing. My personal tutor, Fiona Buchanan, has just supported me through in everything.
"During covid, I had to take the time out because I’m extremely vulnerable so that made things quite complicated. I chose that I didn’t want to do the rest of my time online because it’s so tailored and so personal, I wanted to be in the classroom to ask the questions and best understand my subjects."
It wasn't just Lizzie's tenacity and dedication that saw her win the award however, as she also contributed a huge amount within the law department, working as a peer mentor, student ambassador and was the president of the law society last year, which saw her set up links with local law firms.
She said: "We really want to create local links. We want the graduands to have the opportunity to continue in this area. There are a lot of local students who attend the University of Cumbria and they attend it because it’s very tailored with small classrooms, and the support is second to none. We want to know that the ones who are trained up, go back into our community and it continues to grow.
"I was also really happy to be involved as part of a curriculum review which was the first time last year. Normally students aren’t involved with that. The tutors have informed me today that we’ve made it to a green gown award and we are one of the finalists, which is super exciting.
"Myself and another student were involved all the way through, recommending changes. I wanted to implement well-being within the curriculum because studies have shown that over 80% of barristers and solicitors deal with anxiety and depression due to a lack of work-life balance. So I wanted that to be implemented right from the get-go. I’m very proud of that team because they’ve done amazingly."
There were plenty of times during Lizzie's six years at university when she questioned if she was going to reach the end, but she deservedly earned her degree thanks to a combination of hard work and support from her peers.
She said: "I questioned why I was there and if I had the strength to continue. I can only bring it back to the tutors. I was open and honest with my tutors and that’s something I recommend to any student.
"When it comes to personal tutors. they are not there to judge you. If you share with them what is going on in your life, they can tailor the help to you and ensure that you’ve got that support to get through. With everything that’s gone on, I had four weeks to write a dissertation which normally takes a year.
"At the start of those four weeks, I said to my husband - ‘I can’t do this, it’s not happening.’ And it was four weeks of being up at six in the morning, working through till nine at night and I ended with a 2:1 on that. I achieved what needed to be achieved, and I wouldn’t have got there without the support of my tutors."
Mrs Molloy urged any other students who might be struggling to seek the help and support of their tutors, and also to take things 'one day at a time.'
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