We read so many negative and worrying stories in the news that it can be easy for good-news stories to get lost.
With International Women’s Day having been celebrated around the world earlier this week, I’d love to highlight a few women who studied/are studying in Aberdeen and who have been doing amazing things lately.
- Eilidh Earl-Mitchell graduated from RGU’s Gray’s School of Art in 2017 and has already been recognised as one YWCA Scotland’s 30 Inspirational Women Under 30 for her incredible work designing innovative (and stylish) 3D print prosthetic limbs.
- In 2009 Timipre Wolo gained her LLM in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen and in 2017 she was shortlisted in the Professional Achievement category of the 2017 British Council Alumni Awards. Since leaving the University of Aberdeen she has co-founded the Greener Nigeria NGO, worked for the government and has supported various youth empowerment initiatives. On top of that, she was featured in Her Network’s special Q&A edition for International Women’s Day!
- Meanwhile, Adaku Ufere, who also studied her LLM in Oil and Gas at Aberdeen University was named Attorney of the Year by The African Legal Awards 2017.
- A graduate of Gray’s School of Art, Zee Allison who is our Senior Toolkit Developer here at the University was shortlisted for Computing’s Women in IT Excellence Rising Star Award 2017. The award both celebrates the success of women who are pioneering in technology, as well as aiming to inspire other women to do the same.
- In December 2017 Aberdeen’s Zoey Clark and Kelsey Stewart were picked to represent Scotland in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
- Elaine Wylie who graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1976 was Pride of Britain’s 2015 Teacher of the Year on the back of her Daily Mile initiative at her school which has since been taken up across the UK. The scheme built in time in the school day for children to run or walk a mile every day, getting them out into the fresh air and virtually ridding the school of the problem of child obesity.
- Aberdeen Uni graduate, Amy Papiranski, recently competed in the final of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
- You can see Laura Main, former student of history here at the Uni and star of Call the Midwife, in Shrek the Musical which is touring the UK at the moment.
However, I really believe that some of the most talented and inspiring women in our lives often don’t make the news but that they deserve just as much credit!
Here are some quotes from young women just like us about their personal achievements since graduating from higher education here in Aberdeen and about what makes them happy:
- “I’ve survived my first 6 months of teaching and my class are doing SO well. I’m proud of them and of me. I’m loving it!!” – Amy, graduated in 2017, MA (Hons) Education
- “I’ve travelled to Australia to experience new things and expand more of what I learnt at uni. I’m also more aware of the amazing women I met at uni that are close friends regardless of distance” – Gemma, graduated in 2017, Masters in Applied Marine Biology
- “I’ve worked in public affairs for a couple of years after graduating and set up an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Integration with the charity I worked for. Worked very closely with Chuka Umunna MP while I was the secretary to the APPG, which was very cool. Proudest moment was getting the Australian Ambassador to attend our evidence session on a week’s notice. Also I applied to the Civil Service Fast Stream for the third (!) time in 2016 and third time being lucky got on it and started on the scheme with the 2017 cohort. My first posting was at the Department for Exiting the EU which was amazing. Very challenging and fast paced but I really enjoyed it and am proud of my achievements in the role.” – Anna, graduated in 2015
- “I’ve had some of my stories published which is totally surreal and amazing and I never would have done without uni. Also I managed to get a charity sector job which really helps people and which I’m genuinely proud to do!!!!” – Beth, graduated in 2017, Masters in Creative Writing
- “My proudest moment since graduating RGU as an undergraduate would be going on to achieve an MSc with distinction in Clinical Pharmacy whilst changing jobs (from a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist to Lead Pharmacist for Surgery and Anaesthetics at the hospital I work at), planning a wedding, and training for my first half marathon. Running kept me sane!” – Jane
- “I graduated three years ago which already feels like a lifetime! I found myself recently qualified in a career which didn’t really have a typical prescribed formula for progression, and if I’m honest I’m just really proud of myself for navigating my way through it and managing to keep myself afloat in a creative climate which isn’t making things particularly easy for young people and recent graduates. I’m excited for whatever comes next!” – Amy, graduated in 2017, BA (Hons) Communication Design.
