Natasha Lawson travelled all the way from Aberdeen to Africa, but the lure of her home city was strong.
So she returned to the north east to study at Aberdeen University and finally gained her coveted honour yesterday.
After relocating to Nigeria while still at school, Miss Lawson said yesterday the diverse range of cultures in the Granite City had been one of the reasons for her peripatetic life.
The 22-year-old added: “When I was 12, I moved to Nigeria and lived there for four years. It was a bit of a culture shock after living in Aberdeen and having to move away.
“It was so different in so many ways. I went to an international school and just having to adapt to that was challenging at first, but I loved every minute of it.
“I have also loved the international aspect of Aberdeen University, it is such a diverse place.
“Even on my course, I have met people from Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria and I feel as if I can relate to them after living there, so I’ve really enjoyed that.”
Miss Lawson gained her degree in Biomedical Science and Anatomy yesterday, following a mixture of sport and studies at the university.
During her time at Aberdeen, she was also netball captain and will be returning to Aberdeen University in September to study medicine.
She said: “Netball was a great way to meet friends, and there were about 100 girls in the club all doing such a variety of degrees.
“I wasn’t in halls either because I was from Aberdeen, so it was a great way for me to meet friends and people outside of my course.
“I am coming back to the university in September to start medicine. I am so happy to be coming back, it was my first choice and I was delighted to get in.
“I know the university and the people and I didn’t feel I was ready to leave, so I can’t wait to get back into it.”