Newtownabbey student overcomes loss of parents to achieve doctorate

Robyn McCue has overcome the odds this year to graduate with a PhD in Psychology from Queen’s University Belfast.

Robyn’s mother sadly passed away in January 2015 the day before her final undergraduate exam. Despite receiving the devastating news, she summoned up all her strength and decided to go ahead with it and went on to complete her undergraduate degree.

In September 2015, she began her PhD but one month in, her father sadly passed away.

Robyn said: “I had just started my PhD in October of 2015 when I got a phone call from my older brother who said my dad had died at home of what was likely a heart attack.

“I think I just went into shock after that, I still hadn’t really processed losing mum in January of that year.

“One of the first things I did was let my supervisor know. He was incredibly supportive and had been the staff member I had spoken to after Mum died during my undergraduate course.

“He let me know about my options in terms of taking time off from my PhD, and encouraged me to take as much time as I needed. It was really reassuring knowing that I had his support and the support of the School of Psychology.

“Mum and Dad instilled in me the words ‘just try your best’. So when faced with the choice of taking time off - which I didn’t think would help me - or to keep going, I knew that they would want me to persevere.

“PhDs can be immensely challenging, even at the best of times. I’ll be honest in saying that I struggled quite a lot in the first year of my PhD and I thought about quitting more than once. But the support of my supervisors and the School of Psychology was invaluable, as was the support of the incredible life-long friends I have made during my PhD. I would not be graduating if not for them.”

During her PhD, Robyn was the chair of a student-led mental health campaign, Mind Your Mood, which helped her to cope with her grief. Looking to the future, Robyn will be starting her training to become a clinical psychologist in London this September.

Robyn added: “Neither of my parents went to university, but my brother graduated from Medicine at Queen’s in 2014 (he’s currently training to be a paediatrician) and this summer I’m graduating with my PhD - so there’s now two Dr McCues in the family. I know Mum and Dad would be over the moon at the thought of that.”

--

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high-quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.