Studying is a family affair as mum and daughter graduate

Studying was a family affair for one mum and daughter who both graduated last week after learning together in lockdown.

Mum of five, Reshma Khan was just starting her first year of a Business and Management degree as daughter Kainaat, entered her final year of English Language with TESOL when the Covid-19 pandemic led to the first lockdowns in 2020.

They were lockdown study buddies as they helped each other through long nights of essays and the switch to online learning- and last week they both finally got the chance to properly celebrate their hard work when they attended graduation ceremonies at Curve Leicester.

Kainaat graduated in 2021 but collected her degree along with classmates last week, while her mum’s three-year degree ended earlier this year.

Mum, Reshma graduated on Tuesday but kept her gown until Thursday so she could wear it to see Kainaat cross the stage – and get those all-important photographs together.

“It was such a proud moment,” said Reshma. “After all our work I wanted to be able to celebrate together, as DMU graduates. It has been such an amazing week.”

Kainaat said: “We studied together for a year when I was in my final year and mum was in her first year, which you would think would make it more stressful with us both being in the same house and both being there in lockdown with all this work.

“But actually, we were there for each other and helped each other through it, when one of us was stuck the other was there and it made it a special experience.”

Kainaat has since gone on to complete a PGCE teaching certification and is now at Taylor Road Primary in Highfields, Leicester. “It’s exciting and I absolutely love the job and the kids.”

Reshma, who was 50 this year, said it long been a dream of hers to study for a degree – and she now plans to continue at DMU with a Master’s.

“I have always wanted to study but I have five children so it was only recently that I was able to actually enrol and study for my degree,” said Reshma. “I enjoyed it so much and I loved how DMU really supported everyone especially during my first year when we went into lockdown.

“At first, I was worried about being so much older than the other students but they were so welcoming and now one of my best friends is 21!”

Last week saw thousands of DMU graduates, many of whom had completed their studies during lockdown, cross the stage at Curve Leicester to collect their degrees.