Creative star to Psychology success
This summer marked the end of my 19-year educational journey. Until now, my life has revolved around teachers, classrooms and learning objectives. Looking back, it is fascinating to see how my journey has evolved.
Early on, I envisioned a career in the creative arts. As a child, I spent time performing, relishing every moment on stage. One of my earliest accomplishments in school was receiving the title of ‘Girl of the Year’ in my graduating class of 2011, in recognition of my ongoing pursuit of creativity and commitment to performing arts. These formative primary school experiences set the tone for my educational journey, driven by a high standard of excellence and an ideal of perfection. Though I didn’t pursue a career in performing arts, dance remains a lifelong passion and creative outlet that carried me through my final year of university.
In secondary school, there was a shift from creativity to academics. It was during this time I came to understand both my strengths and weaknesses in education. GCSEs followed a rigid curriculum with little room for personalisation. While this framework instilled discipline and helped me succeed in areas I wasn’t particularly passionate about, I eagerly anticipated A-levels as an opportunity to focus on subjects I was truly interested in – enter Psychology. A-levels proved to be one of the most demanding periods of my academic journey. The pressure of excellence was overwhelming, and I was devastated with my results. Determined to redeem myself, I set my sights on university, a Psychology degree, and achieving first-class honours.
In 2019, I started studying Psychology at the University of Sussex. My passion for Psychology stemmed from a desire to understand the human experience, and the broad nature of the field satisfied my indecisive mind. My degree took five years, including a year abroad and an introductory foundation year. Unfortunately, COVID-19 heavily impacted the first three years of my university experience. I spent most of the pandemic in my bedroom, learning from my laptop, only returning to campus in my third year. This eventually took its toll mentally and physically. After being isolated for so long, I struggled as life began to return to normal. My grades suffered as a result of the stress and anxiety I was experiencing, and by the end of my second year, I believed my hopes of earning a First-Class degree were over – it all seemed to be spiralling downwards. My year abroad could not have come at a better time. After my second year, I spent a year in New York. It was a deeply fulfilling experience, both personally and academically. I returned home with the best memories, lasting friendships, and a renewed sense of optimism, ready to tackle my final year.
I started my final year knowing there was only a slim chance of achieving my goal of a first, but the fact it was not impossible was enough to keep the dream alive. I’ve always been hard on myself, but I never had a high standard of excellence and felt so desperate. I can honestly say that I have never worked harder on anything than my dissertation. My dissertation on the effects of live music on mental health marked the culmination of my five-year journey. I worked tirelessly all year and my commitment to my studies meant I was able to achieve a gold Spirit of Sussex award alongside First-Class honours. Graduating with First-Class honours validated my efforts and marked an achievement I know the girl who struggled with the last few years of her education would be so proud of.
Now, with my degree behind me, I feel proud and enriched by the invaluable experiences that shaped the person I am today. I’m still exploring my career options, but for now, I’m enjoying the freedom from formal education and looking forward to discovering where life will take me next.
