After years of hard slog and late nights pouring over books, hundreds of ANU students will celebrate a significant milestone this week as they graduate.
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More than 1800 students will graduate at mid-year graduation ceremonies this week, with ANU vice-chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt congratulating the students completing their studies.
"The breadth of talented students completing their studies from the sciences to the humanities and the arts is nothing short of outstanding," he said.
Among those to graduate at Llewellyn Hall on Wednesday was Sara Quinn who graduated with a PhD from the ANU Research School of Psychology.
"It's a bit of disbelief that I'm here but I'm surrounded by my family which is quite a nice feeling," she said.
"It's somewhat humbling to see all the other people graduating with me."
Ms Quinn's research thesis looked at the relationship between imaginative play and language development in children.
She found that children who played more imaginatively developed better language skills.
Ms Quinn said she was also deeply passionate in working with people who had experienced trauma and first responders.
"Clinically it's fascinating and very rewarding as well," she said.
"I think it's about creating a space for them where they feel safe so... they can face the fears they've encountered and the trauma they've experienced and to be part of that experience is an incredible honour."
Ms Quinn believed her studies had prepared her well for a career in psychology, and she is currently working as a psychologist in a private practice in Canberra and as a research assistant for her PhD supervisor.
The mother-of-two has also recently been offered a post-doctoral position in the United States.
"It's been far better than I ever actually expected because I've been to quite a few unis over the years and I've been really impressed with ANU," she said.
"I feel like I'm a lot more curious so I enter things knowing I have a certain perspective but then looking at everything with a very curious and inquiring mind so I'm less likely to assume a lot.
"I think being able to apply all the scientific knowledge and being able to use that in my interactions with everyday people is really good."
ANU also this week awarded an honorary doctorate to Emeritus Professor Ian Donaldson for his career in the humanities and the arts, especially as a scholar in English literature.
During his career, he has contributed to 14 books and has held a range of appointments at world-renowned universities such as Oxford, Edinburgh and Cambridge.
