For Maryette McFarland from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the dream of earning a university degree may have taken seventy years — but she’s finally done it.
Now 90, Maryette has graduated with a degree in English Literature, completing a journey that began in the 1960s. Back then, she had joined university in Dublin but left her studies to get married and raise a family.
Decades later, encouraged by her family and driven by her love for learning, she decided to return to education — this time, online.
“I can hardly believe it, and it’s taken me quite a long time,” Maryette said after graduating. Though studying online was challenging, she said her family — including her four children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren — were “wonderful” in supporting her.
“I’m very bad online but I had a lot of help from the family,” she laughed, sharing that her daughter-in-law even taught her how to type.
Her eldest daughter, Shauna Gailey, said proudly, “I am just so proud of her.”
Maryette’s achievement is not just a personal milestone — it’s a shining example of perseverance, passion, and the timeless power of education. Her story reminds us that dreams may rest, but they never truly fade away.
Regardless of where we are from or the ways we journey through life, there is one place that remains with us always family. That is where our first lessons are taught, where during mayhem, we find comfort, and where love is heard loudest when it’s whispered in the quietest time. Today, this International Day of Families – 15th May 2025, we take time to celebrate the unbreakable ties, the joyous laughter, and the silent sacrifices that make us the people we are today. Because family isn’t where life starts it’s where love never ends.
The United Nations General Assembly in 1993 declared the International Day of Families to emphasize the significance of families as the building blocks of society. The day is commemorated annually on 15th May and underscores the recognition of the role played by families in moulding individuals and societies by the international community. The program was a part of the UN’s work towards social progress and development, particularly in relation to matters that influence the welfare of family’s health, education, gender equity, work-life balance, and children’s rights, among others. Every year, the day is marked with a certain theme to highlight aspects of family life and problems confronted by families all over the globe, e.g., poverty, migration, safety online, or inclusive development. As the world prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development in November 2025, the International Day of Families (IDF) will spotlight the pivotal role of family-oriented policies in advancing sustainable development. Held under the theme “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development”, the event will highlight key insights from national and regional initiatives, emphasizing the role of families in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we mark the International Day of Families, we are reminded that the cornerstone of any healthy society is in the home. Large or small, traditional or adopted, each family has its own narrative one consisting of shared meals, middle-of-the-night conversations, quiet sacrifices, and unwavering support. In celebrating families today, we celebrate the values that unite us all: love, respect, unity, and resilience. Let us take a moment to thank those who stand with us through every joy and every challenge and pledge to create a world where all families, in all their forms, feel supported, seen, and valued. Because no matter where life leads us, it’s family that makes us who we are.
