I joined the University of Surrey on the Adult Nursing with Foundation Programme. Before this, I attended a sixth form where I completed 3 A levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Maths. I struggled a bit with my studies prior to sixth form, but never to the point where I couldn’t manage them myself. When I got to Year 13, I started facing a few challenges that eventually burnt me out.
When I got to university, I decided I wanted to get the support I needed from the beginning to avoid a repeat of my A-Levels experience. I reached out to the Disability and Neurodiversity team prior to starting, and I had the opportunity to complete a quiet registration with them in the library when I moved in. It is from that initial conversation that I started to be more reflective on my experience in education, and with the support of the Disability and Neurodiversity team, I was able to get diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia. This has provided me with the language I need to ask for and understand the support I need.
One thing I learned about myself following my diagnosis is how much my personal space matters to me. My family lives in Nigeria, so Surrey serves as a home away from home. Which is why it is important that my room feels like mine. I love K-Pop and collecting the merch of my favourite groups. I love displaying that merch even more. Living in accommodation all 4 years of my degree and getting to decorate and transform it into a space where I can regulate and just be myself has been pivotal to my overall well-being experience and my ability to adjust to being away from home.
Additionally, being surrounded by amazing friends and community has been core to supporting my overall well-being. One thing I love about Surrey is that while it is extremely diverse, we are all united by our hobbies, sports and cultural interests. I started at Surrey without really knowing anyone and made most of my friendships through societies and by befriending the people I sat with on my first day of class.
The first society I joined was the Korean International Students’ Society (KISS). I joined because of my love of K-Pop and general interest in Korean culture. I also auditioned for the KISS performance team, which helped me build a community in Guildford and make lifelong friends. I built my confidence a lot while performing, as I had the opportunity to dance on various stages, including IGALA and Comic Con, and those memories are dear to me. It later opened opportunities for leadership when I became VP in my first year and President in my second, and I went abroad by doing a summer programme at Seoul National University.
I am now in my final year and starting work on my dissertation. I have been able to access study skills support through my Disabled Students’ Allowance, and reasonable adjustments have been put in place for my clinical placements with the support of the Disability and Neurodiversity Team.
