Tell us a bit about your course – what did you enjoy the most?
This was a one-year marketing course – my favourite module was Public Relations (PR), Retail Marketing because the way it was taught was really engaging. PR had a lot of group presentations and business pitches, which I really enjoyed. The retail side brought out the creativity in me – I went out to luxury stores to do market research and we had industry professionals who came and spoke to us and gave us great insights.
You mention having ADHD, is this a recent diagnosis?
Yes, I was only diagnosed in the past couple of years. It explained so much in hindsight, especially around how I’d always struggled with focus, routine, and motivation but managed to mask it well enough to get by.
How did you feel when you were diagnosed?
Relieved, mostly. It felt like I finally had an answer for why things that seemed so easy for others like sitting down and focusing or sticking to a study plan were so hard for me. I stopped thinking of myself as lazy or undisciplined and started understanding that my brain just works differently.
How, if at all, has having ADHD affected your studies? Or life on a daily basis?
ADHD affects everything. From time management to focus to remembering deadlines. I can hyper-focus on something random for hours but struggle to open a simple assignment document. I also get overstimulated easily, especially in busy environments, and I procrastinate a lot not because I want to, but because my brain just delays the start of things. It’s frustrating, especially when I want to do well.
Do you have any strategies that help you when studying?
To be honest, it’s still a work in progress. But what helps me most is starting small like tricking my brain into opening a document just to glance at it or breaking tasks down into smaller chunks. I also talk things through out loud or with friends when I can, which helps me stay grounded and get ideas flowing. Having friends around me who understood and didn’t judge made the biggest difference.
What does it mean to you, if anything, to have ADHD and be graduating next week?
It means everything. There were so many moments where I thought I couldn’t do it – not because I wasn’t capable, but because my brain just didn’t cooperate the way I wanted it to. So graduating is more than just getting a degree. It’s proof that I can push through the hard days and still come out on top. I may have taken the scenic route, but I got here. With a distinction, too.
You mention having a visual impairment? Can I ask what this is please? And how long you’ve had it?
Yes, I was born with a condition called Knobloch Syndrome. It was misdiagnosed for over 20 years as rod-cone dystrophy, but the symptoms have been with me from the start. My left pupil was even surgically repositioned when I was younger. My vision has always been impaired, but I’ve grown up adapting to it.
How, if at all, has having a visual impairment affected your studies? Or life on a daily basis?
It affects everything reading, navigating spaces, accessing certain formats of materials. On a daily level, things like lighting, contrast, and screen size matter a lot. I often have to zoom in or use accessibility settings on my laptop. At times, it’s exhausting especially when things aren’t accessible, or when I have to advocate for myself constantly just to get the basic support others take for granted.
Do you have any strategies that help you when studying?
Definitely. I use a screen reader sometimes, adjust fonts and colours for easier visibility, and rely heavily on keyboard shortcuts. I also pace myself. I can’t power through eight hours of screen time like others might. Having physical copies, big text, or just switching up the format really helps. And when I can’t make something work, I ask for help. Learning to ask has been a strategy in itself.
What does it mean to you, if anything, to have a visual impairment and be graduating next week?
It means I’ve proved to myself that I can do hard things. That I don’t need perfect circumstances to succeed. I’ve had to work twice as hard sometimes just to keep up and I still made it through, with resilience, with kindness, and with the support of people who believed in me. I’m graduating as someone who didn’t let limitations define them. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.
"I stopped thinking of myself as lazy or undisciplined and started understanding that my brain just works differently"
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