โSwansea University literally saved my lifeโ: Neath author shares journey of grief, resilience and hope
Emma graduated with a BSc in Business Management from Swansea University in 2022, despite enduring the devastating loss of her teenage daughter Megan to leukaemia during her studies. She says her time at university gave her the structure and hope she needed to keep going.
โSwansea University literally saved my life after Megan died at 15,โ Emma explained. โThere were times when I genuinely didnโt know if I could continue. But my degree became my lifeline โ it gave me a reason to get up in the morning, structure when my world had fallen apart, and hope when I had none.โ
Turning pain into purpose
Emma has now channelled her experiences into a new book, The Journey Home, which she hopes will inspire other women in midlife to embrace new challenges and rediscover themselves.
โThe book is for women who have spent their lives showing up for everyone else, only to reach their forties or fifties and realise theyโve lost sight of who they are,โ she said.
Her message is clear: even in the darkest times, it is possible to find light again.
From student to mentor
Since completing her undergraduate degree, Emma has gone on to achieve a masterโs in psychology, examining the link between imposter syndrome and female entrepreneurship. That research became the catalyst for her book.
She now runs her own wellness enterprise, coaching women to fulfil their potential through simple, practical strategies such as walking, mindfulness and selfโreflection.
โI provide a holistic approach to life coaching,โ she said. โWellness isnโt about spending money โ itโs about small changes that can make a huge difference.โ
A mature studentโs perspective
Emma left school with few qualifications, and enrolling at university aged 37 was a daunting step. But she says it transformed her confidence and outlook.
โSince I started at Swansea I havenโt looked back. I may have been the oldest person on my course, but I loved it straight away. Studying through lockdown was tough, but it built strength and character. University taught me how to argue, how to question, how to research โ skills that change the way you think and work.โ
She now encourages others to consider higher education later in life:
โThe education system we have here in Wales is a gift and age really is no barrier. So why not go for it, challenge yourself and reach for your dreams?โ
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