Last week, she walked across the stage at Chester Cathedral (November 6) to collect her BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing graduating with First-Class Honours and a renewed sense of pride in how far she’s come.

“I started my career with animals as a zookeeper caring for primates,” she says. “That came to a natural end after five years. I knew I wanted to continue working with and benefiting the lives of animals, and veterinary nursing felt like the next step.”

Originally from Clitheroe, moving and settling in Cheshire made University Centre Reaseheath the natural choice. “It was easily commutable, and it was great to find they offered the veterinary nursing degree,” she explains. “I also had friends who’d studied there and spoke really highly of their experience.”

The road wasn’t always smooth. “Following some health problems both in my family and personally, the final year became particularly difficult,” Elisabeth admits.

“Having the support of my lecturers was amazing – they were flexible with coursework and always there to help. My family and friends also kept pushing me through the final stretch.”