HARLOW nurse Sara Wood-Kwasniewska graduated alongside Olympic curler Eve Muirhead in Inverness today (Friday 2 November).

Sara, 47, graduated from the University of Stirling, after undertaking a BSc degree in Adult Nursing at the Western Isles campus.

More than 90 students graduating from Stirling’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport were joined by Eve Muirhead – who received the award of Doctor of the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to British sport. Eve won an Olympic bronze medal in 2014 as skip for the British team and has been World, European and Scottish Champion.

Sara opted for a complete change of life, moving from Surrey to the Isle of Harris in 2015 to undertake her Adult Nursing degree after working with the ambulance service in London and the Home Counties for 15 years.

As well as studying for her degree and continuing to pursue her career, Sara qualified as a Marine Mammal Medic during her time at the University.

After graduating, she will commute between Harlow – where she will combine work as a nurse in Accident and Emergency at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, with her role as an advanced ambulance technician – and Harris, spending quality time with her family and continuing her marine life rescue volunteer work.

“I feel very privileged to be having an amazing work-life balance mix ahead,” she said. “The NHS has been extremely supportive of both my careers, providing flexibility in my working patterns so I can maintain both sets of skills.”

Sara chose to study at the University of Stirling because of its reputation for great academic support and success.

“It was beneficial being on one of the smaller campuses as you really had one-to-one support,” she said. ”Our academic mentors felt more like extended family during our time there, and they were on hand whenever we needed them. The support and direction was excellent.

“I have always been one to ask questions and have a very inquisitive mind, so I loved the academic side of the nursing degree as much as the patient care.”

She will join a budding alumni community of more than 88,000 people located in 170 countries around the world.