Inspirational Karen overcomes challenges to achieve success

AFTER years of extraordinary personal and academic challenges, from caring for three generations of her family since her teenage years to living with undiagnosed dyslexia, Karen Armitage has graduated.

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Karen, 25, from Neath, has received a degree in Egyptology and ancient history from Swansea University, 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.