TUESDAY, July 5 will be a very special day for Catherine McCarron as she graduates with a First Class BSc Hons Accounting and Managerial Finance Degree at the Ulster University, Magee.
She will be joined for the ceremony by husband and fellow student Brendan, who has completed his second year of his nursing degree, also at Magee.
Both found themselves redundant in the space of seven months in 2009 and with the recession and unemployment levels growing, the couple were "forced" to return to their books.
While many sacrifices have had to made by the family, the 44-year-old describes her decision to enrol as a mature student as "the best thing she has done in her life".
Having began her working life in Derry's Fruit of the Loom factory, Catherine worked for many years in the Ulster Bank before taking voluntary redundancy in September 2009.
"We had three small children (three-year-old twins and a six-year-old), when the voluntary redundancy package came up I thought this was my chance to take a year out with the kids before they went to school and then maybe change career. We were at the height of the recession and the bank was not a nice place to work at that time."
Her husband Brendan had been working in manufacturing beds for 24 years. "It was a relatively well paid 'safe job' and we thought we could afford to live on one wage for a year or so," says Catherine whose "world was turned upside down", when Brendan was made redundant the following April.
"We had a mortgage and suddenly both of us were out of work and we had three small children," recalls Catherine, who through a community employment scheme went on to work as an assistant in a local Irish-language play school for a year.
Meanwhile, still contemplating her long-term future, she booked an appointment with a careers advisor at North West Regional College in Derry which resulted in her completing a combined access diploma and university entry.
"Initially I was going to study social work but changed my mind to finance. It was a case of the devil I know – the figures drew me back."
Struggling to find employment, Brendan made a dramatic career change and as he had no leaving cert, he had to embark on a number of courses before starting his degree in nursing.
So why nursing?
"If you asked that question to Brendan, he would say because my wife said I would be a good nurse. He grew up in a caring environment. His daddy has MS and hasn't walked since Brendan was about seven and as he was the baby of the house he did a lot of the caring."
“Unemployment was something neither of us were used to growing up – it wasn't the done thing. My daddy is 70 and he still tells us all we should be improving ourselves."
Catherine has passed this work ethic on to children Ronan (13), Michael (10) and Andrew (10) who have witnessed their parents hit the books again.
“My husband and I were regularly fighting for a place at the kitchen table with the boys to do our homework,” says Catherine who admits she went to uni with her son's homework and textbooks on more than one occasion.
"They know the importance of education and the things that come with it. They've had to struggle with us. When I finished my exams this year, Ronan said 'Does that mean if you get a job we get a holiday now?’"
As well as holidays, the family had to forgo splurges on clothes, toys, eating out and treats.
"The boys would be eagerly awaiting results day as we would reward ourselves for the hard work with a treat, such as the cinema and lunch at Nandos. Simple things like that suddenly become big things."
Catherine thoroughly enjoyed being a student in her 40s.
"It's helped me to mix with all ages. And as a parent it's given me a better understanding of what it's like to be 20 and what is ahead potential for my eldest will face in a few years time. My one regret is I never got asked to the pyjama party in the Students Union," she laughs.
But amid the fun, there were tough times and the huge amount of logistical planning that comes with three children – not least school pick-ups and Gaelic training.
She was awarded an Ulster University scholarship during her studies which helped her immensely to purchase books and pay for childcare. Her mother-in-law helped out until her final year when she was diagnosed as terminally ill and sadly passed away just three weeks before her final exams.
"Christmas past, with granny being sick and both of us having important exams in January, was the toughest part of our time at university. She was such an important part in our lives for support would be immensely proud of both of us."
Catherine has secured two job interviews in the area of finance and is very excited about what the future might hold as she intends to complete professional exams and become a chartered accountant.
"I think I've worked that hard now that I don't want to give up again." Perhaps she will own her own accountancy company? "That's a bit too ambitious maybe," she laughs.
At her graduation ceremony Catherine has been asked to deliver an inspirational address to her fellow graduates. She has already inspired her sister, who is now studying for a business degree. And just last month a meeting with an old friend, whose marriage had recently broken down, resulted in her friend deciding to get her life back on track by enrolling to do a part-time course in September.
Her message to those stuck in a rut, in a job they don’t want or looking to get back on to work after children?
"You just need the courage to take that first step back into education. There have been hard times and sacrifices. Many times I would have loved to go out for the night or buy a new pair of shoes – but the end product is so worth it."
