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Little Sol watches as mum Clare crosses the stage at Abertay University graduation just hours after birth
A graduate celebrated two life-changing milestones in a single day after welcoming her baby son to the world before crossing the stage at Abertay University's graduation ceremony in Dundee just hours later.
Clare Hart, 40, who is from Dundee, graduated with a First-Class Honours Degree in BSc (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Health at Abertay’s Summer Graduation ceremony on Friday 10 July.
At less than a day old, newborn son Sol MacIntosh Hart-Gordon joined his father Darren Gordon, who is also from Dundee, and other family members at the city's Caird Hall to celebrate Clare's academic success.
Sol was born at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee at 5.15pm on Thursday evening, weighing 6lb 11oz. Having been due on 3 July, Clare had begun to worry she might miss her graduation ceremony altogether.
She said:
The plan was always going to be playing it by ear, and Sol's due date came and went, and I worried that I wasn't going to make it to Graduation. I really wanted to be with my classmates and lecturers, and to bring closure to one story before starting my new journey.
Wearing a tuxedo outfit, Sol was the talk of the ceremony throughout the day as the happy news spread amongst Abertay's graduates and guests, with some dubbing him the 'youngest ever graduation guest'.
Despite the challenges of balancing pregnancy, study and preparing for motherhood, Clare was determined to mark her achievements at Abertay in person. However, after giving birth, she still wasn't sure she would be able to attend.
She said:
When he came on Thursday evening, I didn't know if I could manage. When I was given the all-clear from the midwives, I went home and had a few hours' sleep in my own bed, and Sol had a very settled night.
I woke up feeling refreshed and it just felt right – I don't know if it was just adrenaline or not, but I tried not to put any pressure on myself or on Sol and I think that played a huge part.
Sol was so settled during the ceremony too, which was a huge relief. I'm so glad I managed to go along and spend a couple of hours there. It just felt so surreal.
Clare said her pregnancy coincided with one of the busiest periods of her degree, particularly during the final months of dissertation work and assessments.
It was such a conflicting time. I knew I needed to put in the work, especially to meet my own standards. I wanted to take care of myself and grow a healthy baby. You’re trying to juggle all of these plates and wear all the different hats, and you can't do it on your own.
Clare credits much of her success to the support she received from family, fellow students and staff across the University.
My classmates and lecturers have been so supportive from the very beginning. I feel so lucky and I couldn't have asked for a better support system.
I messaged the class group chat on the morning of Graduation telling them that I'd had the baby and that I'd be joining them to graduate. They couldn't believe it. Everyone's faces lit up when I walked into the Caird Hall to find my seat.
Clare also found that her studies helped shape her own experience of pregnancy, allowing her to put lessons from the course into practice.
It was so interesting actually – things I'd learned earlier in my degree ended up helping me throughout my pregnancy, and vice versa. I revisited one of my third-year modules when I discovered I was pregnant and I saw it all in a completely different way.
Alongside her studies, Clare gained practical experience through her work in Abertay's Wellbeing Clinic, where students have opportunities to develop consultation and client-facing skills in a supervised setting. She said:
Working in the Wellbeing Clinic has been amazing, to get the hands-on experience working with people one-on-one and practising consultation work.
Clare, who is already a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, hopes to combine her nutrition degree with her existing expertise to establish a holistic health and nutrition coaching business in the future.
My plan was to get things up and running as soon as I graduated, but of course I fell pregnant unexpectedly, so the plan will be on hold while I transition into my role as a new mother.
I've got all the parts; I just need to activate them now.
Clare's family were equally delighted to see her graduate, with Sol's father Darren Gordon praising her determination and resilience.
He said:
Clare's incredible. This was a completely natural birth, and both baby and mum are happy and healthy. It's just incredible that she was able to make it here – nothing was stopping her and I think it was just meant to be.
Reflecting on Clare's journey through university, Darren added:
It's been emotional. I've always tried to be as supportive as possible, even when it was just helping take care of the dogs or helping lighten Clare's load at home so she could focus on her work.
Clare said the experience has left her feeling grateful for the support she received throughout her studies and pregnancy.
I feel so grateful for the support I've received from everyone around me.
Getting a degree and having a baby are the two hardest things I've done in my life, and I somehow managed to do them together. I'm still processing it all.
I truly never thought this would happen for me, and it has changed who I am as a person.
Clare is now prioritising her recovery and bonding with baby Sol as she transitions into life as a new mum.
Abertay's summer graduation ceremonies recognised the achievements of more than 700 students from across the University's Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences and Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business.
