'Life changing' experience for mum

Young mother who left school at 16 says studying at Bangor University has been ‘life changing.’Natasha Stubbs-Davies

Mother of three Natasha Yvonne Stubbs-Davies, 35, from Deganwy, is graduating with a BSc in Cancer Biology.

The former Llandrillo College student said: “Graduating feels like a mixture of pride, relief that I made the grade and elation!

“I left school at 16 to care for my mother and siblings due to her ill health. I returned to study in Llandrillo College at 22 and completed with excellent grades. After a few hard years, I decided to take my fate into my own hands and applied to Bangor to fulfill my ambition of studying Biological Science. It has changed my life, and provided me with the opportunity to provide my children with a better quality of life. I am beyond grateful to all of my tutors, particularly Dr Thomas Caspari; they are truly inspirational people.

About Bangor, Natasha added: “I chose Bangor as I wanted to study locally due to family commitments. Fortunately the School of Biological Sciences at Bangor offer an excellent range of courses.

“Students at Bangor are fortunate to have the North Wales Cancer Research Institute based at the University, and so we are taught by inspirational researchers.

“The highlight of my time at Bangor was getting my grade the day it was released. The relief and elation that I had achieved the grade I needed was overwhelming and very emotional.

“Studying full time and caring for a young family has been very challenging. It is a balancing act, between being the best parent I can be, and dedicating enough time to studying and completing assignments.

“In the future I hope to continue my studies and eventually work in science writing and work in public engagement.”

Publication date: 12 July 2013