Abz’s Well-Being Journey
I’m Abz, and I was part of the first group of students to join UA92 in 2019. Starting a degree can be a daunting experience for anyone, but as someone with ADHD, anxiety and other neurodiverse conditions, I found it particularly challenging. Despite that, I graduated in 2022 with my degree, having had a life changing experience at UA92. Here’s my guide to navigating mental health, finding support and succeeding as a student at UA92.
1. BE OPEN AND HONEST
I joined UA92 at a time when I was struggling with my mental health. I had an anxiety attack on my first day and I just wanted to leave, but I was able to speak to the Student Support team at the start of my journey and they were unbelievably helpful. Once they understood what I was struggling with, they could provide me with support, tips and coping strategies.
2. MAKE THE MOST OF SUPPORT SERVICES
I had weekly support sessions, regular 1-2-1 counselling sessions and I was also provided with a Learning Support Plan. This helped my tutor better understand my needs and how to accommodate them, whether that was extra time on assessments or 1-2-1 support in lessons.
3. CREATE A ROUTINE THAT WORKS FOR YOU
I was a morning student, which meant my lessons were always 9am-1pm. This helped to structure my day, which is particularly helpful for someone who usually struggles maintaining a routine. The study blocks mean you focus on just one assignment at a time, which really helped to reduce my stress levels. The timetable also meant I could use my afternoons to focus on things that make me feel good, including writing poetry, podcasting, perfecting my student cooking (my three-bean chilli recipe!) and exercising.
4. FIND YOURSELF WITH THE 92 PROGRAMME
I didn’t know what to expect from the 92 Programme when I first started at UA92. These are personal development sessions that form part of each module. I found that studying things like positive self-talk, staying motivated and having faith and confidence in yourself has really transformed my outlook on life.
5. EMBRACE IT!
This next chapter is a fun experience for you! While there may be tough times, everything is much easier with the support of a great community, like the one at UA92. In my opinion, UA92 are a great example of a higher education setting that’s doing it right when it comes to supporting students with their mental health.
Remember, you’ve got this, and the team at UA92 have got your back too. I hope to see you around campus!
