FAMILY DELIGHT AS BOMB VICTIM SUZANNE GRADUATES
Family delight as bomb victim Suzanne graduates
BY JOHN McCUSKER
Determination and stamina win through
A UNIVERSITY student who lost part of her leg in the Omagh bombing has fulfilled a personal promise to complete her university teaching degree.
Suzanne Kelly, from Hunter Crescent, graduated from the University of Liverpool last week following a challenging four-year course.
And the 23-year-old is now looking forward to taking on a full-time teaching post at a Liverpool primary school in September.
Suzanne had just completed her first year studies at Liverpool Hope University College when she was caught up in the Market Street explosion almost three years ago.
She sustained severe injuries to her right foot which necessitated the amputation of her limb just below the knee
Despite her horrendous injuries, she vowed to complete her course and fulfil her ambitions to teach.
"I was always determined I was going to finish my degree," she told the Herald this week. "I wasn't going to let my injuries get in the way of my studies and my future.
"On the day after the bomb, I said to myself, the Real IRA has taken away part of my body but it isn't going to take away the rest of my future."
A former pupil of St Brigid's High School and the Loreto Convent Grammar School, Suzanne opted to pursue her teaching career after gaining excellent results in her A levels.
Seven months after the explosion, she returned to Liverpool to resume her studies. And the following summer, she completed her four-week teaching practice in St Dympna's PS in Dromore.
She was accompanied to last week's ceremony at Liverpool University by her mother Christine, who was also seriously injured in the blast, her brother Damien and boyfriend, Rory Doody.
Following the graduation ceremony she celebrated her success during a meal with family and friends.
She said: "Graduation day is an emotional time for most students and it was no different for myself and my family.
"I'd put in a lot of work during the past few years, so I was delighted to have finally reached my goal.
"I'm really pleased with my achievement. At times during the past few years the going has been tough especially trying to cope with the leg and
the workload.
"But it's all been worth it and I'm really pleased I've been able to achieve what I set out to do," she said.
At the beginning of the next school term Suzanne begins a full-time teaching post at St Margaret Mary's PS in Liverpool.
"I'm really looking forward to the job and the challenge it poses and can't wait until September comes around," she added.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
Determination and stamina win through
A UNIVERSITY student who lost part of her leg in the Omagh bombing has fulfilled a personal promise to complete her university teaching degree.
Suzanne Kelly, from Hunter Crescent, graduated from the University of Liverpool last week following a challenging four-year course.
And the 23-year-old is now looking forward to taking on a full-time teaching post at a Liverpool primary school in September.
Suzanne had just completed her first year studies at Liverpool Hope University College when she was caught up in the Market Street explosion almost three years ago.
She sustained severe injuries to her right foot which necessitated the amputation of her limb just below the knee
Despite her horrendous injuries, she vowed to complete her course and fulfil her ambitions to teach.
"I was always determined I was going to finish my degree," she told the Herald this week. "I wasn't going to let my injuries get in the way of my studies and my future.
"On the day after the bomb, I said to myself, the Real IRA has taken away part of my body but it isn't going to take away the rest of my future."
A former pupil of St Brigid's High School and the Loreto Convent Grammar School, Suzanne opted to pursue her teaching career after gaining excellent results in her A levels.
Seven months after the explosion, she returned to Liverpool to resume her studies. And the following summer, she completed her four-week teaching practice in St Dympna's PS in Dromore.
She was accompanied to last week's ceremony at Liverpool University by her mother Christine, who was also seriously injured in the blast, her brother Damien and boyfriend, Rory Doody.
Following the graduation ceremony she celebrated her success during a meal with family and friends.
She said: "Graduation day is an emotional time for most students and it was no different for myself and my family.
"I'd put in a lot of work during the past few years, so I was delighted to have finally reached my goal.
"I'm really pleased with my achievement. At times during the past few years the going has been tough especially trying to cope with the leg and
the workload.
"But it's all been worth it and I'm really pleased I've been able to achieve what I set out to do," she said.
At the beginning of the next school term Suzanne begins a full-time teaching post at St Margaret Mary's PS in Liverpool.
"I'm really looking forward to the job and the challenge it poses and can't wait until September comes around," she added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0789
Published Date: 19-Jul-01
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