Looking back, my experience within the education system often felt like a waste of time. In primary school, I spent most of my days daydreaming, disconnected from the classroom. By secondary school, I had begun to fall into addiction: drawn in by a need to numb the effects of complex traumas I experienced at a young age. This led to a profound lack of self-confidence. Struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and carrying deep emotional scars, I had little motivation or direction. In turn, achieving grades or qualifications felt impossible for me.

By the age of 13, I had immersed myself in a world of alcohol, drugs, and prescription medication. My reality was shaped by toxic relationships, particularly within the care system. I left school with no meaningful qualifications, and addiction became my primary and only coping mechanism. In truth, substances felt like my only companions, and this destructive lifestyle became my norm for years.

At 26, I found myself in prison—a place that felt all too familiar. During my sentence, I turned to studying psychology as a way to cope with the mental health struggles and to pass time. Unfortunately, my education was always short-lived outside of prison. Once released, I would fall back into the only life I knew: addiction. Each relapse brought more trauma, more self-destruction, and the cycle continued.

In 2016, everything changed. I entered an 18-week Residential Rehab Programme that marked the beginning of change. For the first time, I began to value myself. Something within me sparked: a desire to build a future for both myself and my family. Recovery started to provide me with the clarity and strength to believe that change was possible.

Now, nine years into my recovery, I am in a positive place, ready to reclaim the education I once lost at a younger age. In 2024, I completed the ‘Step Up to Higher Education’ course at University of Staffordshire. Although stepping into an academic environment was daunting, it gave me confidence, purpose, and a chance to push myself. The support I received from my course lead, Ashley, and the wider Step Up teaching team helped me manage my ADHD and CPTSD: which are psychological challenges that have long held me back in the past.

Alongside my studies, I have since engaged in a number of voluntary roles that allow me to give back to the community and support people who are on a similar path to the one I walked. I now give talks at Foston Hall prison in Derbyshire, sharing my story to show that change is possible with the right support. These experiences have strengthened my belief that my past, while painful, can also be used to empower others.

For me, I have recently received an offer to begin a full-time degree BSc Hons Forensic and Criminological Psychology at University of Staffordshire in September 2025. This path feels right with both my academic interests and personal mission. I want to use my own personal lived experience to support individuals, who may be following a similar path to me in my younger days.

At age 48, I now understand the value of education—not just as a tool for career development, but as a means of reclaiming my identity, worth and future purpose, whatever that maybe. The road hasn’t been easy, and it won’t always be smooth, but for me every step forward is a personal victory.

To anyone from a disadvantaged background: know that your life experience is not a burden, it is your strength. You do belong in higher education, in recovery, in success, and in any space you choose to walk into.

This is my chapter of growth and self-discovery. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and even more excited about what lies ahead.