Melissa Thompson was placed into foster care at 14 months old and was inspired by the care and compassion she was shown
Melissa Thompson graduates with a Bachelor of Social Work from Queen’s University
A woman who was placed into foster care at just 14 months old is following in the footsteps of her late adopted father as she graduates as a social worker.
Melissa Thompson is graduating today with a Bachelor of Social Work from Queen’s University Belfast, reaching a goal she has held since early childhood.
Placed into foster care at just 14 months old and adopted at the age of eight, Melissa’s early experiences shaped both her outlook and her ambition.
She said: “The care and compassion I was shown through my own experiences with social workers, inspired me from I was around four years old age. I was also influenced greatly by my adopted father, who was a social worker himself.”
Melissa speaks warmly of her father, Thomas Thompson, describing him as the person who guided and inspired her most. Prior to losing him in 2017 when Melissa was just 18, she made him the promise that she would graduate with a degree in social work.
Whilst he may have jokingly described her decision as “crazy”, following in her dad’s footsteps is something Melissa approaches with both pride and determination.
Melissa added: “My mum and dad were always supportive of my decisions and only wanted what was best for me. My dad was the most selfless, caring and funny man anyone ever met. His ultimate dad-quote was ‘I may not always be right, but I’m never wrong!’
“He was an incredible social worker and was loved and valued by every person that came into contact with him. If I can be even a fraction of the social worker he was, I will have succeeded. He was my best friend and my hero, and I’ll miss him for the rest of my life.”
Melissa’s route to graduation has not been without challenges. Health issues and surgery meant she had to pause her studies, and when she was preparing to return in 2022, she discovered she was expecting her son Harvey, who is now three.
“I was terrified to leave Harvey and at the prospect of studying full time with a child, but he was also the thing that drove me. I wanted to give my son a better life and fulfil the promise I made to my dad.”
Resuming her degree when Harvey was just seven months old, Melissa credits the support of those around her with helping her to persevere.
She said: “I most definitely would not be here without the unwavering support of my partner, my family, my tutors and the Care Experienced Support Team at Queen’s. Throughout my studies, my mum was a the most amazing support with Harvey, and my fiancé, Dawid was working constantly to provide for us.”
Maintaining connections with those who supported her is a value that permeates throughout Melissa’s journey. She describes maintaining contact with the social workers who supported her in her early years in care, including one who was newly qualified at the time and went on to become Head of Service for the Trust before recently retiring.
“She is one of the good ones,” notes Melissa. “A woman who dedicated so much of her time, career and life, and saved so many children from further harm and trauma.”
Despite the challenges she has faced, Melissa is immensely proud of her perseverance, allowing her to achieve something “truly meaningful,” going on to make that difference in the lives of others.
Looking back, she has a clear message for her younger self: “Do not worry about a thing. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for and every little trauma and adverse experience you have gone through will be worth it in the end.
“Be patient with yourself. You’re living for the first time and you will undoubtedly make mistakes, but it’s all part of life. Keep going, no matter how hard it gets. You’ve got this.”
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