In a powerful story of love, resilience, and determination, 18-year-old Gabrielle Morgan from Newcastle has achieved what many only dream of — a place at the University of Oxford. What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that it was driven by a promise she made to her mother, Faustina Morgan, before she passed away from lung cancer in April last year.
The loss came during Gabrielle’s A-level studies, yet instead of being derailed by grief, she channelled her emotions into hard work, determined to honour her mother’s wish. Her exceptional results — straight A* grades in English literature, Spanish, and chemistry, as well as an A* in her extended project qualification (EPQ) — secured her a place to study Spanish and beginners’ Portuguese, fulfilling a dream that belonged to both her and her mother.
A Mother’s Guidance and an Unbroken Promise
Faustina Morgan’s life journey took her from Malaysia to the UK in her early twenties, where she built a life centred on her children’s growth and education. She was strong, organised, deeply faithful, and dedicated to giving Gabrielle and her sister Francesca the best possible start.
Before they joined Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, Faustina homeschooled them, instilling in them not just academic knowledge but a love for learning, creativity, and perseverance. She supported every interest they pursued and encouraged them to aim for the highest goals.
When Faustina was diagnosed with lung cancer, she refused to let illness overshadow her children’s ambitions. She urged Gabrielle to keep working on her Oxford application, no matter how difficult life became. It was a promise sealed in love, one that Gabrielle carried with her long after her mother passed away.
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“My mum was incredible, strong, organised, inspiring, and a person of great faith,” Gabrielle said. “She supported every interest we had, helped us through our GCSEs and pushed us to work hard. She made me promise to keep working hard on my Oxford application no matter what happened. I could practically hear her celebrating with me when the offer came through.”
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The acceptance letter from Oxford wasn’t just an academic triumph; it was the realisation of a shared dream and a final act of devotion to a mother who had given everything to her children’s future.
Perseverance in the Face of Loss
Gabrielle Morgan’s journey to Oxford was anything but easy. Grief was a constant presence in the months following her mother’s death, yet she chose to use it as motivation. Her commitment to her studies never wavered, and her achievements in her A-levels were nothing short of outstanding. She earned straight A* grades in English literature, Spanish, and chemistry, along with an A* in her EPQ — results that left no doubt about her academic ability.
Her dedication to her Oxford application also meant going above and beyond. While on a school trip to Valencia, Gabrielle needed to sit her Oxford admissions test. Rather than postpone, she travelled with her director of sixth form, Karen Fletcher, on a high-speed train to Madrid to ensure she could take it. It was a decision that reflected her determination to keep moving forward, regardless of obstacles.
Languages have always been central to Gabrielle’s life. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, she has long been captivated by literature and storytelling. She dreams of becoming an author, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien — the celebrated writer who both studied and taught at Oxford. “Tolkien is my favourite author – he studied and taught at Oxford and wrote the books that shaped my love of reading. That’s why I decided to apply there,” she explained.
Gabrielle’s academic excellence also follows in her family’s footsteps. Just a year earlier, her sister Francesca achieved straight A* grades and secured a place at Cambridge to study natural sciences. Both sisters credit their mother’s teaching, encouragement, and values for their success.
Honouring a Mother’s Memory
While Gabrielle’s academic results are remarkable, she has also found deeply personal ways to keep her mother’s memory alive. At Dame Allan’s, she performed Ed Sheeran’s “Visiting Hours” and “Supermarket Flowers” during school concerts in her mother’s honour. The performances were emotional tributes, with lyrics that spoke directly to her experience of loss.
“She loved hearing me sing, so it felt special to sing for her in front of others,” Gabrielle said. “Those songs encapsulate what grief feels like.” These moments gave her an opportunity to express her emotions beyond the classroom and to share her mother’s influence with others.
As Gabrielle prepares to begin her studies at Oxford, she carries with her the lessons her mother instilled: the discipline to work hard, the curiosity to explore the world, and the courage to pursue dreams even when the path is difficult. Every step she takes at the university will be a continuation of the journey she began with her mother’s guidance.
Her story is more than a tale of academic achievement. It is a testament to the strength found in love, the power of promises, and the resilience to keep moving forward in the face of loss. For Gabrielle, Oxford is not just the next chapter in her education — it is the place where her mother’s hopes for her future will continue to grow, where every success will carry with it the memory of a woman whose belief in her never wavered.