After years of extraordinary personal and academic challenges, from caring for three generations of her family to living with undiagnosed dyslexia, Karen Armitage has graduated from Swansea University.
Karen, 25, from Neath, has received a degree in Egyptology and ancient history—fulfilling a dream that once felt out of reach.
Her caregiving journey began at just nine, supporting her siblings while her mother and father battled mental health challenges.
“By 15, I realised I was in charge of my household—and I’ve really been in that role ever since,” she said.
Karen’s responsibilities kept growing at home—eventually including care for her grandparents and supporting two of her younger siblings through their autism diagnoses.
As her caregiving responsibilities grew, so did the pressures at school, where academic challenges began to surface.
For years, Karen wrestled with the effects of her undiagnosed dyslexia, which was repeatedly dismissed despite its clear impact on her learning.
She wasn’t officially diagnosed until 2016, a moment she describes as life-changing.
“I cried,” Karen said. “It was the first time I felt truly seen.”
However, the road ahead was still filled with hurdles, as during her GCSEs, Karen faced a severe bout of glandular fever that forced her to drop several subjects—including her favourite, history.
Still navigating recovery and self-doubt, Karen tried different career paths until the 2020 lockdown created space for her to reassess what she really wanted to do.
“I had tried hairdressing and psychology, but neither was a great experience,” Karen said. “Covid was the first time I was able to really stop. And in that stillness, not only did my family begin to heal, but so did other aspects of my life.”
That clarity, combined with the inspiration of films like The Enigma Game and Darkest Hour, drew Karen back to history, and she decided to enrol at Swansea University, where she had previously volunteered at its Egypt Centre.
Alongside her studies, Karen became a subject and school rep, championing accessibility and inclusion, and helping to create a support network for student carers like herself.
“Everything I do is shaped by my experience with dyslexia and as a carer, which includes my neurodivergent siblings,” she said. “My brain naturally looks for ways to reduce stress for people who are often overlooked.”
Karen now plans to pursue a master’s in public history and heritage, while continuing her advocacy through a new role as a Part-Time Officer in the Students’ Union.
“I’m a completely different person from who I was in my first week,” she said. “That’s largely thanks to the support I’ve had at the University—and now I want to make sure other students get the same chance to belong.”
For Karen, what started as personal growth has turned into something much bigger—bringing positive change to her family.
“Mum and I are now more of a team. I’m so proud of her for stepping up while I’m at university; something I make sure to tell her every day.”
“I’m also proud of myself for being the first in my direct family to graduate,” Karen said. “But the best part has been seeing the opportunities my siblings now have. While I missed out on a lot in childhood, I’m so grateful to see them live theirs fully.”