A dyslexic student who promised her dying grandma that she would go to university is celebrating graduating with a First from the University of Central Lancashire*.
Mair Ferguson, who was only diagnosed with dyslexia while at University, enrolled on to the counselling and psychotherapy degree in 2020 but deferred for a year to care for her terminally ill grandparent, who was her surrogate mum.
She said: “When I first enrolled for this course I was looking after my gran who had terminal cancer. Because caring for my gran was my priority at that time, I deferred but before she died in December 2020, she made me promise that when September came around I would go to university.
“Despite still grieving I knew I had to keep my promise, so I started in the September but I soon had difficulties. I found myself being unable to keep up with or read the presentation slides in lectures. I also struggled to read any of the recommended reading or understand the assignment briefs.
“One day when I was feeling defeated whilst struggling to read through and catch up on lecture slides, I saw a man in the Library helping a young woman read off her computer. I went over and introduced myself and asked If he could help me too and it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”
That chance meeting with Roger was life-changing … I have been able to achieve things that little me would have never thought possible– New University of Central Lancashire graduate Mair Ferguson
Mair spoke to inclusive support tutor Roger Eckton, who works one-on-one with students with additional learning needs, and she was set on a path to being diagnosed with dyslexia.
The 25-year-old commented: “That chance meeting with Roger was life-changing. Before starting this degree, I had struggled throughout the entirety of my education always feeling as though I was stupid and incapable of achieving academic success. However, through the kindness, patience, belief in my abilities, constant encouragement and unwavering support shown to me by my tutors, I have been able to achieve things that little me would have never thought possible.”
The former Trinity CE High School pupil, who now lives in Kendal, is planning on working as a psychotherapist within addictions services. She would like to work within the university either teaching or helping students in some capacity and is also aiming to do a postgraduate degree in the hope of becoming an art therapist.
She added: “I still can’t believe that I’ve graduated. At the start, I was struggling throughout the course with academic reading and writing, and now I’ve finished with a first-class honours degree. There are lots of mixed feelings all at once but overall, I feel a huge sense of achievement and I know my gran would be over the moon.”
*University of Central Lancashire is proudly changing to University of Lancashire