Katrine Black has been juggling work and study for eight years and yesterday it all paid off when she graduated with a distinction from Robert Gordon University (RGU).
The 24-year-old from Portmahomack began an apprenticeship with the oil and gas consultants Genesis in Aberdeen at the age of 16.
At the same time, she started studying for a Higher National Certificate in mechanical engineering with North East Scotland College.
Following this, she started her studies with RGU and yesterday she collected her degree in the subject.
She was relishing the sense of achievement.
“It feels great to finally have a degree,” she said.
“The past eight years have flown by so it hasn’t felt like too much of a slog but it feels great to have a lot more free time.
“Working alongside the engineers with Genesis and gaining insight into what they were doing aided my interest in subsea engineering and made me want to continue my studies.
“I’m really grateful to the company for supporting me through the college and university courses and helping me further my personal development.”
Her days of balancing work and study are not yet over, as next year she plans to study a masters degree in subsea engineering at Aberdeen University.
She said: “I think everyone has the ability to push themselves a little further, and I feel the masters level will keep me satisfied that I’ve achieved what I can.”
