Family summer holidays in France paid off for Melissa Smart yesterday as she graduated with a first class French Studies degree.
The 23-year-old, who also earned herself a distinction in spoken French, said she had thoroughly enjoyed her time at Aberdeen University and is now looking forward to returning to train as a teacher.
Miss Smart, from Aberdeen, has always had a keen interest in languages, having started at an early age at Mile End Primary School before continuing onto Aberdeen Grammar.
She said the highlight of her time at university was her year in France on a teaching placement in Lille, which she credits with greatly improving her French and setting her on a path to becoming a teacher.
Despite being “really homesick” when she was away, Miss Smart said: “I made some really good friends and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Miss Smart is now planning to become a secondary school French teacher.
A committed Christian, Miss Smart said her faith has helped her overcome some challenging moments during her time at university and she is now getting ready to travel to South Africa for the summer.
She said: “I’m taking part in a Christian outreach project, working with children in a township in Cape Town – we will be helping them and taking them on a summer camp. It’s a chance for them to get home comforts and some bible teaching. “
