Graduates of the University of Newcastle are ready to take on the next stage of their lives, after the first graduation ceremony on Monday.
Juris Doctor graduate Jyoti Gaire was accompanied by two special guests for her ceremony: her two sons.
"They are so excited. They are asking to use my hat and my six-year-old has his graduation as well from his preschool so they are very excited because he says he is just like mum," she said.
She migrated to Australia from India in 2013, where she became inspired to start her legal studies.
"I was working in a bank before and I really liked the advisory part of it so I wanted to be a legal advisor so I was inspired to do it by some of the lawyers I met in Sydney."
Ms Gaire said balancing full time study with work and looking after her two kids was not always easy, but graduating on Monday was a dream come true.
"It was something I have been wanting to do so it was exciting for me but it was quite challenging at the same time. It was a three year journey with kids and a family and a career.
"The balance was always a struggle and it made it difficult to finish assignments on time.
"I can't express how I feel in words but it is like a dream come true. I love the culture here so it just feels great to graduate and even better to graduate from the University of Newcastle."
Now, she wants to help others in the community.
"I have a dream to work as a pro bono lawyer for as long as possible because I want to give back to the community so that is what is next for me."
64-year-old Shirley Clifton also graduated on Monday with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education after studying for nine years.
It is a moment she described as "truly joyful."
Her aim was to finish her PhD by the time she turned 60, but now at 64 she said she wants to continue working to see her research have an impact on the lives of students.
"I was getting very disheartened by the increasingly marginalisation of the arts in education in both schools and universities so I wanted to do a thesis that could speak to the benefits of the arts in education," she said.
While studying she worked five part time jobs.
"I took on multiple roles because I was very determined to finish it. It was very hard which is probably why it took me nine years to complete but it was very worth it.
"My parents are probably the most proud. My mum grew up in an era where she got a scholarship to study chemistry and maths but you needed your fathers permission and her father wouldn't allow her to take it up so she could never pursue education. I think this means more to her than anyone."
Oyuntungalag Tsevegdorj graduated with a Masters of Business Administration. She said she was inspired to study after her small business had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mother of two said balancing family, study and trying to keep the business afloat was a challenge.
"When I started studying I had a 15-month-old. It wasn't easy at all, especially when COVID hit I had to home school them and now that I look back I don't know how I managed it all.
"Now that I have graduated I feel so relieved and I can start feeling the freedom. I can go to work and send the kids to school."
