Throughout the first two weeks of March 2024, the streets of Valletta have sustained the buoyant click-clacks of close to 1,500 PhD and Master鈥檚 graduands.
Two of those who proudly marched to the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic in Merchants Street were father and son, Philip Mifsud and Andr茅 Mifsud Kingswell, who had the honour of graduating together for a second time!
Two years ago,
This time, on Tuesday 12 March 2024, they crossed the finish line together once again, with both having obtained a Master鈥檚 in Advocacy.
Despite their 28-year age gap, having completely different ways of doing things, and frequenting different friends, they managed to attend the same lectures and study together peacefully and without any major distractions, especially towards exam period 鈥 when they both felt the need to consult each other more frequently.
鈥淲e would get on each other鈥檚 nerves, but we have both been blessed with patience, maybe more him with me, but we鈥檝e always managed, and they were five of the most rewarding years of my life鈥 said Andr茅, with his right hand clutching his left arm the exact same way his father was.
鈥淭hat was one of the matters we took into consideration at the initial stages of this journey 鈥 I was concerned I would become a burden, and student life is what it is, but we discussed it thoroughly and he told me he was comfortable with the situation鈥, reverted Philip.
Both admitted their bond grew stronger throughout this journey, which also taught them to see eye to eye on more matters.
The pace at which they study was not one of them, it seems.
鈥淚 start early, I pick up a rhythm and keep that up, whereas Andr茅 starts slowly, and picks up the pace towards the end. We do study together, especially as exams approach, but even in the togetherness, we have our own quirks鈥, said Philip.
鈥淲e love challenging each other, and we鈥檙e quite competitive, that鈥檚 for sure!鈥
Was this enough to perhaps lead them to open a law practice together? Not quite. Since Philip is already a well-established architect, and Andr茅 is just finding his ground in the working world, their career paths are divergent. But they have both shown a keen interest in civil law.
Philip encourages those who would love to start studying, or perhaps have put that on the back burner for a while and are considering resuming as it鈥檚 never too late to learn.
鈥淎t first, you will see a steep mountain to climb, and doubts might start creeping in, but the satisfaction of graduating and crossing the finish line far outweighs that鈥, he concluded.
