Student carer battles challenges including chronic pain to graduate after seven years of study

A disabled student carer is graduating from Heriot-Watt University today with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

Megan Lorna Ongley, 24, suffers with chronic pain and sometimes needs to use crutches to get around. Megan manages many medical conditions, alongside looking after her partner, mum and grandfather, who all have chronic health conditions.

Despite these challenges, Megan has continued studying – as well as supporting other Heriot-Watt students in multiple roles including Senior Student Ambassador in Heriot-Watt’s Widening Participation and Student Recruitment teams.

Megan has also been a committee member for the Heriot-Watt Disabled Students Society, which campaigns to ensure student access needs are met across the University, and the Heriot-Watt LGBT+ Students Society, who are campaigning to make the university more welcoming and safer for LGBT+ students. Megan has also been a School Officer – a student role which involves gathering feedback from class representatives for Heriot-Watt’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences – and has juggled her studies with various other part-time jobs.

Asked how she feels about graduating, Megan said: “I feel relieved, excited, and scared all at the same time. I have struggled throughout my time at university, due to many things, including my mental and physical health. I’m relieved I’ve got to the end and got my degree. I’m excited for what the future holds, but I’m also scared of what’s coming next – because I honestly don’t know what that is yet.”

Because of illness, exam resits and time off after several deaths of close friends and family during her time here – including her nan and great grandparents, whom she had lived with her whole life – Megan had to switch to part-time studying, and graduates today after seven years at Heriot-Watt University.

“It’s the longest time I’ve spent in one place,” Megan said. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from Heriot-Watt. The University diagnosed my dyslexia and suggested I could go part time which I didn't know was an option for undergraduate. They’ve also helped me improve my confidence through my student ambassador roles. My ambition after I finish my studies is to stay working in higher education, though I’m not sure in what role yet. I would love to stay on in a role here.”

Megan is the first person in her family to go to university and was supported into university through the Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools.

This year, Megan is one of two Heriot-Watt University students featured in a campaign about widening access to higher education. Called 40 Faces, the campaign has been launched by Universities Scotland, which represents Scotland's 19 higher education institutions, and aims to celebrate students who have attended university from underrepresented backgrounds.

Megan said: “I’ve enjoyed being a Student Ambassador and hope in my future career I can help people make the right decisions, like so many of the staff here at Heriot-Watt have helped me to do.

“As an LGBT+ disabled woman, some people think I won’t succeed and that I’d be better off giving up, and I did believe those people at times. However, thanks to all the staff, friends and family who have been with me in one way or another, I got to the end of a long and hard road. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this. ”

Tracey Kerr, Widening Participation Manager at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Megan has been a student ambassador for most of her time at university and been a valuable member of the wider widening access team. She has helped us reach out to widening access students, always able to engage with both young and mature students and helping them believe that they can come to university too. Her ability to achieve her degree despite challenges she has faced is proof that she will succeed at anything she wants to do in the future.”