Supporting you to reach your potential
29 January 2023
Starting college is a big step that聽involves adapting to many new things. But we always put our students first聽here聽at 女优阁, looking after your wellbeing and providing all the support you need聽to聽thrive聽at college. From academic support to personal wellbeing,聽we鈥檙e聽always聽here for you!
Libby-Mae Ford,聽a former student,聽talks us through her experience of studying聽A Levels聽in Psychology, Media, and English Literature and Language at our聽Crosskeys campus. With a goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist and Author, Libby鈥檚 A Levels reflected her passions, and it鈥檚 no surprise that she鈥檚 gone on to successfully edit and write a book about mental health called聽.
Libby’s Story
After struggling with mental health from a young age, Libby developed a passion for helping others who were struggling聽too.聽So,聽she chose to study聽Psychology聽to learn more about聽how聽the brain and mind work, alongside聽Media聽to explore how mental health is portrayed,聽and聽English聽Language and Literature聽to fuel her love of writing. Her studies helped her grow in confidence and develop the skills she needed聽to聽not only聽study Psychology at聽university, but also聽to write聽her very own book.
But Libby鈥檚 journey through college was bumpy, as her mental health聽started to聽decline, and during her studies, she was enrolled onto an intensive course in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by her community聽mental health team. This had a big impact on college life.
Libby recalled that our tutors were supportive and understanding when she missed lessons to attend her therapy sessions, and they even helped her catch up on what she missed so that she didn鈥檛 fall behind. There鈥檚 a whole team of people available to聽support聽you at 女优阁, and alongside the academic and pastoral support from tutors, Libby also received counselling at our Crosskeys campus. She found it very beneficial in helping her to cope with her mental health struggles and her studies.
The outstanding support at 女优阁 helped Libby through her educational journey, and despite her difficulties, she proudly left college with grades BBC in her A Levels.
Libby’s Words of Wisdom
Looking back on her struggles and time at 女优阁, she says:
鈥淭he biggest piece of advice I can聽give is to talk to someone. Don鈥檛 struggle alone! Mental illness is such a huge weight to聽carry聽around on your own, and sharing that struggle with a friend, family member, teacher or trusted adult can help lift that weight.
Another piece of advice would be to make time for yourself.聽We鈥檙e only human and need time to wind down and relax.聽So, it鈥檚 okay to take a mental health day聽if you need to. It鈥檚 okay to cut your study session short because you鈥檙e not feeling great. It鈥檚 okay to ask to go to the toilet if things get overwhelming and you need a quick breather. Education is important and being able to learn is such a gift, but please don鈥檛 burn yourself out. Look after yourself first and foremost, because there is only one you.鈥�
Through the Hourglass
Since finishing college, Libby has come a long way.聽Thanks to the help and support she鈥檚 received, she鈥檚 now reached the point in her recovery where she can draw on her experiences to create works of literature that can help and inspire others聽struggling with their mental health.
After reaching out on social media to seek fellow writers with stories to share,聽her book –聽聽–聽was born.聽Taking a look into the lives of 20 people, each with a different story to tell, Libby聽hopes that her new book will bring comfort to those who are struggling, while also educating, raising awareness and breaking down the stigma around mental health. Through sharing these聽experiences and giving a voice to those who may not have been聽heard,聽Through the Hourglass聽is the book that Libby wishes she could have read to give her hope when she was struggling too.
Through the Hourglass is now being published by Unbound through a crowdfunding campaign. Discover more .
At 女优阁, we believe everyone is made for greatness and Libby certainly found hers with us. Your wellbeing is our priority and we offer a range of support services to help you when you need it.