Post by Dr Laura Correia

The penny has finally dropped. ✨🎓 Yesterday was one of the most emotional days of my life. The moment I put on my doctoral gown, I completely fell apart. I cried my eyes out. My wonderful friends and family had to console me, my makeup was ruined, and my beautifully straightened hair decided to curl right back up underneath my graduation hat… but every single tear, every curl, every moment was worth it. Because… I DID IT. I still can’t quite believe I’m saying those words. I have a PhD. As I walked across that stage, another realization hit me: once again, I was the only one. The only Black woman. A Portuguese woman of Cape Verdean descent 🇵🇹🇨🇻. Standing on that stage, graduating with a PhD in Sport & Exercise Physiology from Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport. That is how significant this moment is for me. It is bigger than a title. Bigger than a degree. It represents perseverance, resilience, representation, and hope. It is proof that we belong in spaces where we are often unseen. But this journey was never mine alone. From studying for my BTEC National Diploma in Sports Studies and Performance Excellence at Hull College to completing my PhD, I have been surrounded by extraordinary people who carried me through moments when I doubted myself. I truly stand on the shoulders of giants. To my director of studies and supervisor. The cleaning lady who kept me company while I waited for students to arrive before teaching. To the incredible lab technicians. To our CSS administrative team. My fellow PhD researchers. My colleagues. The staff across Carnegie School of Sport. The CLT team who supported my fellowship. The library staff. The IT team. Every single person who patiently answered one of my many questions (and there were many! 😅). My friends. My family. And everyone cheering me on from every corner of the world… 🌍 MUITÍSSIMO OBRIGADA. ❤️ This achievement carries every act of kindness, encouragement, patience, and belief that was poured into me over the years. This PhD may have my name on it, but it belongs to all of us. Here’s to dreaming boldly, working relentlessly, and never letting being “the only one” stop you from becoming the first. Yours sincerely, Dr. Laura Correia, PhD 🎓✨ Alexandra Potts Antonis Stavropoulos Carnegie School Of Sport Leeds Beckett University #graduation #leedsbeckettuniversity #carnegieschoolofsport #classof2026