“This city held me when I needed grounding the most, and without even realising it, it slowly started feeling like home.”
An Indian woman has spoken about how moving to Belfast for university helped her rebuild after the grief of her father’s death.
Swapnali De graduated on Thursday, December 11, with a Master’s in Experimental Medicine from Queen’s University Belfast, completing a journey in which she rebuilt her confidence, rediscovered her spark and found strength in a new city far from home.
In 2021, Swapnali lost her father, the person she calls her “guiding light and unwavering supporter” to coronavirus. Soon after her dad’s death, she took up a research role in the US – but her grief was ever-present.
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Remembering her father, Swapnali said: “My dad was the calmest, funniest, most gentle and grounded person I’ve ever known. He was my partner in crime and the quiet pillar who supported me through every phase of my life.
“Unlike the traditional career expectations many parents in India have of their children, my dad taught me to follow my heart. He shaped my understanding of resilience, kindness, and what it means to do meaningful work in the world.”
Her father’s final words to her, “Life is going to have a lot of obstacles, how you deal with them is what matters”, became her anchor through her hardest days, encouraging her to take some time to begin the healing process, using meditation, breathwork and Pranic Healing.
A turning point came when she was invited by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to host a cancer biology workshop, the parts of her that loved science, learning and sharing knowledge came back to life and reignited the fire she had once again.
Encouraged by her best friend who had previously moved to Belfast, Swapnali chose to begin a new chapter in a city she describes as becoming a source of calm and belonging.
She said: “Queen’s felt like a place where I could rebuild myself, not just as a student but as a human being and Belfast just wrapped me in this warm, comforting embrace from the moment I arrived, like I was always meant to be here.
“This city held me when I needed grounding the most, and without even realising it, it slowly started feeling like home. Coming here turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Her studies gave her focus and confidence and alongside her degree she began teaching breathwork and meditation, helping to support others in their own journeys of healing.
Swapnali reflected: “My course came into my life at a time when everything felt messy and uncertain. Lectures, research, and a routine reminded me that I still had purpose, that I still had something meaningful to offer the world.
“I was lucky to have the support of truly amazing people in my life who have allowed me to reach this milestone: my mum, whose unwavering support and belief carried me through some of the hardest moments in this journey and whose encouragement made it all possible, my supervisor, Dr Derek Brazil, and my lab mates whose teamwork, laughter and shared passion for science made the lab feel like a second home.”
Looking ahead, Swapnali will continue to combine her love of science with holistic wellness. She said: “When I began meditation and breathwork, the shift it created was so powerful that I realised this wasn’t just a personal tool, but something I could share. That’s when I understood that my pain didn’t break me, it reshaped me.
“Deep down, I’ve always been drawn to helping others having grown up watching my parents and grandparents do the same. My dad always said that the world is full of opportunities, and I intend to seek them out.”
As for what comes next after graduation, Swapnali has recently started a new post as a Clinic Technician with ACCA Longevity Clinic in Belfast.
She added: “It beautifully brings my two worlds together. I also want to continue building my SoulSync Wellness community, sharing breathwork and nervous system regulation practices to help others heal and find balance. My path is a blend of science and healing, and I am excited to see where it leads next.”
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