Keith Duffy’s daughter Mia had a busy week celebrating as she graduated from university this week. The22-year-old Mia earned her degree in Enterprise Computing from DCU.
While it’s an achievement Mia and her family are incredible proud of, the graduate hasn’t shied away from discussing the challenges involved in obtaining her degree as a women with autism.
Opening up about her college experience as someone with autism, Mia wrote a post for her alma matter DCU’s Facebook page.
Saying: “I have autism and DCU became Ireland’s first autism friendly university by my 1st year going to college, so I really had my heart set on attending because I believed I would have a lot of support available for me.”
Continuing: “Thinking about the future can be scary, but it was going to come sooner or later, so I just have to embrace it. I would say that maybe my DCU experience wasn’t entirely perfect due to COVID, that didn’t stop me from succeeding in my studies.”
Mia also thanked her family for encouraging and supporting her, while she studied.
Writing: “Throughout my course I had support not just from the university, but from my family as well, there were times when I just wanted to give up, but they were there to keep me going.”
Finally, she closed with some advice for prospective students.
Saying: “So as you leave school and enter this big bad world, don’t expect your experience to be perfect, but just enjoy every moment as best you can.”
Her dad Keith couldn’t have been prouder to see his youngest graduate.
Taking to Instagram to share some shots of the big day as he confessed that he was the “proudest parent in the world”.
“To all who have followed our story for over 20 years Today marks the biggest milestone ever,” he enthused.
“Mia Graduating from Dublin City University with honours. A day we where made to believe would never happen. We are blessed for all your support and that Mia was given every opportunity to reach her full potential only by never taking ‘No’ for an answer from anyone along the way.
“We are the proudest parents in the world. Mia herself has always pushed herself and worked hard to achieve her own Goals and continues to do so. Please take the positive from this and See believe and achieve ! Yes you can yes we can.”
