Gaelic student Eilidh Forsyth felt immediately at home at the University of Aberdeen after visiting on an open day where 'everything looked incredible and felt like its own little village'.
But during her time as a student she has taught many of her friends about another small village - Alness where she is originally from – introducing many of her classmates to her love for the Highlands and the bagpipes, which she plays in her spare time.
Eilidh, who will graduate with first class honours in in Gaelic with Distinction in Spoken Gaelic, says meeting so many people from different walks of life has been the highlight of University life.
“The mix of people I’ve met and the stories I’ve heard, I’d never have experienced that outwith coming here,” she adds.
“I’m really happy to be graduating but it has passed so quickly, it doesn’t feel very long ago that it was the first day of first year.
“I’ve learned so much about life as well as my subject. I lived off of cheesy pasta and BLTs for my first two years and took my ironing home every few weeks but I’ve definitely improved!
“I’ll really miss the routine of University and all the wonderful people I have met – and talked about Alness to – but I will be glad to never need to hand in another essay!
“My lecturers and teachers - Kirstie MacLeod, Michelle MacLeod, Moray Watson, Pia Coira, Susan Ross, Alec MacDonald, Mr Stewart and Miss Reid – have turned my original interest in Gaelic into a real love for the subject.”
Eilidh, who won the Murdo Campbell prize for Gaelic for her degree performance, is now hoping to begin a career using Gaelic but will first enjoy an adventure to New York and Washington.
Ceumnachd airson duais Ghàidhlig Eilidh Forsyth
Bha an t-oileanach Gàidhlig Eilidh Forsyth a' faireachdainn cofhurtail aig Oilthigh Obar Dheathain às deidh tadhal air latha fosgailte far an robh ‘a h-uile rud a’ coimhead iongantach agus a’ faireachdainn mar a bhaile beag fhèin’.
Ach fhad ‘s a bha i na h-oileanach bha i air mòran de a caraidean a theagasg mu bhaile beag eile – Alanais cò às a tha i bho thùs – a’ toirt a-steach mòran den luchd-clas aice mun ghaol a th’ aice air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus a’ phìob, a bhios i a’ cluich na h-ùine shaor.
Tha Eilidh a’ ceumnachadh le Ceum sa chiad rang ann an Gàidhlig le àrd-urram sa Ghàidhlig labhairt, ag ràdh gur e coinneachadh ri uimhir de dhaoine bho dhiofar raointean beatha an rud as fheàrr ann am beatha an Oilthigh.
“Am measgachadh de dhaoine ris an do choinnich mi agus na sgeulachdan a chuala mi, cha robh mi a-riamh air eòlas fhaighinn air sin taobh a-muigh tighinn an seo," thuirt i.
“Tha mi air leth toilichte a bhith a’ ceumnachadh ach tha e air a dhol seachad cho luath, chan eil e a’ faireachdainn fada air ais gur e a’ chiad latha den chiad bhliadhna a bh’ ann.
“Tha mi air tòrr ionnsachadh mu mo bheatha a bharrachd air a’ chuspair agam. Bha mi a’ fuireach far pasta càiseach agus BLTn airson a’ chiad dà bhliadhna agam agus thug mi an nigheachan agam dhachaigh a h-uile beagan sheachdainean ach tha mi air fàs nas fheàrr gu cinnteach!
“Bidh mi gu mòr ag ionndrainn gnàth-chleachdadh an Oilthigh agus a h-uile duine mìorbhaileach ris an do choinnich mi - agus a bhruidhinn mi mu Alanais - ach bidh mi toilichte nach fheum mi aiste eile a thoirt a-steach!
“Tha na h-òraidichean agus na tidsearan agam – Kirstie NicLeòid, Michelle NicLeòid, Moray Watson, Pia Coira, Susan Ros, Ailig Dòmhnallach, Mgr Stiùbhart agus Miss Reid – air mo chiad ùidh sa Ghàidhlig a thionndadh gu bhith na fhìor ghràdh don chuspair.”
Bhuannaich Eilidh duais Mhurchaidh Caimbeul airson na Gàidhlig airson a ceum ceumnachaidh, tha i a-nis an dùil cùrsa-dreuchd a thòiseachadh a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ach ach còrdaidh turas rithe an toiseach gu New York agus Washington.