Thread by @UL

"Today is a day of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I’m really proud to be the first in the Mincéir (Traveller) community to receive a doctorate, but on the other, It’s kind of sad that it’s taken until 2019 for it to happen." - Dr @SindyLJoyce #ULGraduation

"Education in itself is, of course, a difficult road for anyone in the community - but hopefully that will all change in the future.

I’ve heard people refer to me as a “role-model”. I’m not that fond of the title." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"I do understand that coming from the indigenous Mincéir community it’s difficult to not be considered as one. Things are often ten times harder for us, we’re judged ten times more by people." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"So we know that when we go out into the world and do something like this, we are representing the whole community –whether we like it or not. The community is represented as a collective, and not as individuals." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"I do think role-models are important for the (Traveller) community, especially for young children to see people from their community in high positions and being able to push the barriers forward and break that glass ceiling – especially as a woman." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"I’d love to thank my community for being behind me throughout my long journey, especially my family, friends, and my boyfriend. I’d also like to thank my supervisors, who have supported me from the very start right through to the end." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"Of course, a big thank you to University of Limerick itself and the faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (@ResearchArtsUL) for giving me ways to move forward and for supporting me without any judgmental attitude." - Dr @SindyLJoyce

"UL understood me as a person - not only as an individual but as a representative of the community as well.

Not 100% sure of where to go from here just yet, whether to stay in academia or go into civil society. I’m still in that indecisive stage at the moment!" - Dr @SindyLJoyce