A mum’s drive to become a dance teacher has helped her overcome a marriage breakdown and homelessness to achieve her goal.
Mum-of-one Lucy Clements has already been offered a job with a dance company teaching children with additional needs, even though she only graduated from university this week.
The 27-year-old took to the stage at the University of Central Lancashire to be awarded a degree in dance performance and teaching.
Lucy, who lives in Blackburn and is a single parent to her six-year-old son, thought her graduation day would never come after a series of personal heartbreaks almost caused her to drop out of university.
"I often wrote essays whilst [my son] was asleep on my lap and had to work well into the night. Despite this, it was absolutely worth it and I am so proud to be graduating.”"
— Dance performance and teaching student Lucy Clements
The life-long dancer split up with her husband just six months after starting her studies and, with her young son, she ended up homeless for three months where she often stayed in hotels and didn’t have anywhere to wash her clothes. In addition, she had sepsis in her first year and underwent surgery in her second year so had to take time off to recover.
She said: “There were times when I really thought I’d never finish my degree. I was juggling so many things and even when I managed to find a new home in Blackburn I still had to look after my son and study at the same time. I often wrote essays whilst he was asleep on my lap and had to work well into the night. Despite this, it was absolutely worth it and I am so proud to be graduating.”
Lucy, who grew up in Kent and Lincolnshire before moving to Lancashire, also became a carer for her mum during this time after she lost the sight in one eye and needed help in everyday tasks.
"[My mum] is here to see me graduate and I know she’s very proud. It’s also important that my son is here too and is part of this special moment."
— Dance performance and teaching student Lucy Clements
“Mum moved to be near me and we’ve helped each other over the last few years so we’ve been on this journey together” she said. “She’s here to see me graduate and I know she’s very proud. It’s also important that my son is here too and is part of this special moment.
“I sadly lost my grandmother whilst I was at University. She was a huge part of my life and supported my dance career dreams and goals so I hope I’ve made her proud.”
Lucy can teach across many genres but has a passion for street dance and hip-hop. She is now focused on her new career and developing her skills as a dance teacher, with a long-term goal of one day owning her own dance school.
"Over the last few years I’ve learned a lot about myself, both as a dancer and a person, and now I have a clear vision of how I want to teach ..."
— Dance performance and teaching student Lucy Clements
She added: “Over the last few years I’ve learned a lot about myself, both as a dancer and a person, and now I have a clear vision of how I want to teach and encourage my students to have the freedom to express themselves.
“I took six years away from dance before coming to university and at times I worried I would never find my way back, but I did. I even had a reoccurring injury that interrupted my studies but I didn’t let it stop me.”