A north-east youngster is busily preparing for the next stage of her life after collecting her degree in Law and European legal studies from Aberdeen University.
Lauren Elrick was joined by her family yesterday as she exited her graduation ceremony at Elphinstone Hall.
Looking back on her university experience, there was one conspicuous highlight which stood out for the 22-year-old from Banff.
As part of the schools Erasmus programme, Miss Elrick gained the opportunity to spend a year abroad. During that time, she studied in Helsinki where she travelled to Estonia, Belarus and Lapland.
Commenting on the experience, she said: “It was the most memorable part of my degree, the year was just fantastic.
“It was such a great place to travel and I made so many friends and got the opportunity to do so many courses that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.
“After graduating today, I have applied to a few masters programmes, some of them in the Netherlands, so I’d love to study, work, or live abroad again because it was such an unbelievable experience.”
Reflecting on her time at university, Ms Elrick declared the experience had allowed her to grow as a person and prepare her for whatever life had in store.
She said: “I didn’t have family who had been to Aberdeen before, but my family were keen for me to come here, especially with the reputation of the law school being so good at Aberdeen and it didn’t disappoint at all.
“I think, even though university obviously has its stressful moments, you really need to stick at it. Everyone has a rough patch to go through, but when you come through it, you are a stronger person because of it.
“I personally feel as if I have grown so much at university, especially going abroad, and that is something to take from university.
“It’s not just about learning, but about shaping you as a person and preparing you for that next step.”
