How do I balance education with health? To get an accessible room, I live with first year students – ‘freshers’ and the majority of my flat are very clear that they want to make the most out of drinking and making noise as that matters to them. When attending University, my main apprehension was that I wouldn’t ‘fit in,’ years of being self-taught and profound social anxiety made me worry I wouldn’t find people that liked me or could accept me for who I am. It is bizarre when I am representing other people, my purpose enables me to manage and function ‘normally’. But when I have to show myself as a young person with no cover, that is when I struggle.  But I don’t need to struggle…

Not everyone at University enjoys the social life that is encouraged and promoted, and I really don’t fit into the clubbing or drinking scene. I fought so hard to get to University that I just want to perform academically – that is #whatmatterstome. Only now am I realizing that I don’t need to feel pressured to go out or to see people every night – it does mean I don’t make the contact with friends that maintains the relationships, but I don’t want to pretend to be someone else. I am the person that needs to take time to be true to myself, I need to continue to spread my wings and accomplish the tasks that are important to me.