Young Leeds mum who went viral after graduating with her six-year-old daughter by side starts masters

Rachael Campey, 22, graduated in late 2019 with a degree in counselling psychology - after defying the odds when she was kicked out of school when she fell pregnant.

Since being kicked out of school, Rachael battled her way through seven different education facilities and 'countless jobs' to achieve her dream of graduating alongside her daughter Lily-Rose Campey.

Rachael, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post at the time, said: "I graduated and I felt immensely proud having her there.

"When she heard them shout my name, I heard her shout “that’s my mummy” I felt like everything I had worked through was for her."

Rachael said she was very nervous at the ceremony due to suffering from anxiety.

She said: "I have an overwhelming sense of completion when I got my award, I cried as I could see my daughter and mother in audience and the pride and smiles on their face.

"I have an overwhelming congratulations and pride for me from people I don’t even know, the lecturer that stopped me dropping out in first year made me continue to third year with her first year, it was the first time I ever had anyone believe me and it’s thanks to her I graduated (doctor Alison Torn) - which is so amazing!"

Rachael said when she fell pregnant at 14 it was the "end of her education".

She added: "I set myself the goal of a degree and to actually reach it is unbelievable to me.

"I was told to leave as they couldn’t support me and I was bounced around the education systems since that day till I landed at uni.

"So many doubted me apart from my friends and parents, I didn’t even believe in myself."

The Leeds mum is a MindMate Ambassador and speaks publicly on a range of topics/issues.

In 2019, she told the Yorkshire Evening Post that she hoped to go into further education to become a counsellor or pursue public speaking full-time.

Now, Rachael said she had achieved that dream and returned to Leeds Trinity University to study a masters in mental health and wellbeing.

She said: "I started my masters in mental health and well-being in September.

"I’m really enjoying it as public health is something I want to pursue.

Rachael said the last year of publicity following her viral post - which was shared by more than 100,000 people.

She added: "It’s been very surreal, all the lovely things me and Lily have done from being on TV and a Mother’s Day campaign for Asda.

"Working through lockdown has been that stop I needed just before my masters so it’s been very weird in a way at how much I’ve done, but how little at the same time."

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Thank you

Laura Collins