Classic FM has provided the soundtrack for Ros Gipson's university life - so the digital radio station couldn't have picked a better time to play her dedication.
The Education Practice MA student requested a celebratory piece of music for her last day of studying at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Ros said: "I always put on Classic FM, as it helps me study.
"I sent a text asking for a dedication for all DMU staff and students and they rang me back, asking me to record my message and a birthday wish for their 25th anniversary celebrations.
"Just as my request came on I was typing the final word of my dissertation. It was amazing timing!"
Ros wanted to thank staff and students for her enjoyable time at DMU and for inspiring her career choice.
Born in Burton upon Trent, Ros had always wanted to study for a degree and be a teacher. However, when she applied first time around her mother became ill and sadly died of cancer.
"I waited a couple of years and then had to do a two-year access course to get into university," she said.
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Enrolling on Education Studies, Ros combined her academic work with a job as a quality officer at the Ministry of Justice in her home town and chose to stay at DMU for her Master's in Education Practice, benefiting from a VC's 2020 Scholarship.
She said: "The postgraduate course helped me see how far I could push myself - 20,000 words for a dissertation flew out of me. The tuition fee discount did help me decide to stay at DMU."
The 33-year-old's university highlights include being a mentor for an Education Studies Computer Programme course and running for Deputy President Education in the DSU elections. She has also been involved in A Germ's Journey, a project led by Dr Katie Laird and Dr Sarah Younie to show young children the importance of hand washing in preventing disease.
"I was invited to go with them to India to help spread the message but I couldn't because it clashed with the start date for my new course," she said.
Ros has just started her Post-16 PGCE at Burton and South Derbyshire College, inspired by lecturers Dr Ross Purves and Dr Mark Pulsford.
"They both believed in me and pushed me," she said. "They gave me the idea of teaching adults, as they saw something in me that I didn't see."
Her ambition as a teacher is "to be like Ross and Mark". She added: "I want to see in people things they don't and help them realise they can do anything they want."
Posted on Tuesday 19 September 2017