Post by Annie Hockaday

I am very happy to share that I have graduated from Durham University with a First Class Honours (Class I) in Psychology and Education (BPS Accredited). I am particularly proud of my Dissertation titled “Perfectionism and Emotion Regulation: A Facet-Level Meta-Analysis” which scored 90 and is in the process of publication. The review revealed concern-based perfectionism strongly correlates with maladaptive strategy use, and simultaneously constrains adaptive regulatory capacity, creating a double-bind, and identified a systematic measurement bottleneck in the literature in which rumination is starkly over prioritised. My Psychology Lab Project on “Attentional Distraction in Virtual Reality: The Interactive Effects of Emotional Expression and Movement” was particularly fulfilling. It involved conducting experimental trials on 15 participants in the VR Lab, enhancing my competency in set up and recruitment, alongside the standards and complexities of testing. I loved this practical element of my degree, and I am proud to have achieved 78 on the report. I am honoured to have received an Academic Achievement Award for Year 3 (highest average), Academic Achievement Award for my Dissertation (highest mark), and an Academic Achievement Prize. This feels very special. Thank you to everyone who supported me and shared their expertise. You all really helped me reach my full potential. I am so grateful for this and the recognition. My 3 years at Durham have been marked beyond academia. Durham has allowed me continue placing value and commitment to passions outside of my degree, through Durham University Netball Club, and football at College. I loved serving as Welfare Officer of DUNC this year, giving back to a sporting community that is such a large part of my university life. This role helped me stay connected whilst recovering from my ACL injury. Overall, sport has enriched my character and all-round personal development in ways no grade could ever shape, so I will forever be thankful for all the bonds I have made and the balance that Durham culture has helped me fully regain, which once felt more challenging to achieve. Graduation was a hugely fulfilling day, surrounded by so much support from every circle of my life. Thank you to each and every one of you. More to come on the next chapter that begins soon!