'I needed to reward myself': mum graduates college one day after giving birth
Mum-of-two Zeinab Abdalla walked across the stage at her graduation from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
Not only is completing a masters degree as a mother an amazing a achievement, but she attended her graduation ceremony one day after giving birth.
Zeinab Abdalla just had a baby girl last night! She still made it to the graduate ceremony to get her master’s degree. Amazing! #tommiegrad #UST2018 pic.twitter.com/JMSItaXsDl
— Univ. of St. Thomas (@UofStThomasMN) May 20, 2018
A short video clip of the delighted Zeinab receiving her masters in Autism and Spectrum Disorders, thanking everyone woh helped her over the years and stating that she plans on going for her PHD next.
Her four-year-old daughter was also present at the graduation ceremony.
"I wanted to thank St. Tom's university for being there for me, for helping and supporting through the nights and days that I was sick. But I made it. Thank you!"
Speaking to local media, the 26-year-old revealed that she had given birth to a 7 pound baby girl, Selma, at 8pm and showed up at her graduation at 5pm the following day.
"I was so excited that I forgot the pain, but I was under medication," she laughs.
While having the baby the day before graduation was never her plan, her waters broke on Friday morning. After the very short hospital stay, doctors cleared her and baby to go home and celebrate the big day.
The supermum, who worked full-time, cared for her daughter and studied at night, said that she "worked too hard" to miss out on receiving her degree.
"I was like 'I need to reward myself' so to do that I have to walk on the stage, get my degree and throw my cap."
Zeinab choose to study autism because it is a subject that is still considered taboo in Somali culture, with many mothers unsure of how to get help.
"To find help from their doctors or paediatricians or schools, the language barrier is there, the culture barrier is there, and they don't know who to trust."
What an absolutely amazing woman!
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