Background
Foster was raised in the townland of Dernawilt, between Lisnaskea and Rosslea in County Fermanagh. Her experience with the Troubles began early in her life. A bomb exploded under a bus she was on board while travelling to school; the girl next to her was reportedly "badly injured". A night-time attempt was made to shoot her father, a Royal Ulster Constabulary reservist, at her home.
She was educated at Queen's University, Belfast where she graduated with an LL.B. degree. It was at Queen's University where her political career began after joining the Queen's Unionist Association. She served as the association's chairwoman from 1992 to 1993. After leaving Queen's University, she remained active in the Ulster Unionist Party, chairing its youth wing, the Ulster Young Unionist Council, in 1995. In 1996, she became an Honorary Secretary of the UUP's ruling body, the Ulster Unionist Council, a position which she held until her resignation from the UUP on 18 December 2003.
Read more about this topic: Arlene Foster
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