Student support inspires Occupational Therapy student to degree success
An Occupational Therapy student has been reflecting on her time at GCU and the different challenges conquered throughout her journey to graduation.
Lynn Ewart is set to walk across the Royal Concert Hall stage this summer after deciding she needed a change from her 12-year career in care.
“I remember my friend and I were talking about me moving on and doing something different,” explained Lynn.
“It wasn’t until they actually highlighted it to me and told me I should be doing something else that I took a step back and thought about it.
“I’d worked a lot with OTs in my role and I was always hearing their stories about the impact they can have on the lives of individuals. I like the fact that the role is so versatile and you get to look at the person as a whole. It’s not just about a certain illness, it’s about everything in their life. You’re also not limited to one specific area: we can work in mental health, learning disabilities, hospitals.”
Before coming to GCU, Lynn made the first step in her OT journey by completing an HNC at Glasgow Clyde College.
She said: “It was quite daunting to apply because I had to write a personal statement and talk about myself. The lecturer asked me why they should let me on the course and I explained that I had a lot of experience working with individuals through my career in care - thankfully that made me stand out.
“I enjoyed the course but that was when I found I had dysgraphia. I knew I had dyslexia but didn’t know much about dysgraphia, which is basically a writing disorder. It was quite surprising to find out I had it at the age of 37, but I wanted to use it as motivation to keep on pushing myself.
“I got loads of support at the college, which really did help make a big difference. I visited their student support four times a week, which was a pretty big commitment alongside working full-time and supporting my family.”
Lynn successfully completed her HNC which allowed her to become an OT assistant, but she wanted to progress to the next level.
“Being an OT assistant wasn’t enough for me,” explained Lynn.
“I applied for GCU and was luckily accepted. We actually came to the University while we were studying at college and I remember saying to my friend that I didn’t think it was for me – it all seemed quite intense! A couple of years later, my friend and I were sat in the same class and she reminded me about our conversation. It’s funny how things turn out!”
During her time at GCU, Lynn has continued to receive support for her dysgraphia and dyslexia. She explained how the support offered throughout her four years has made a big difference to her overall learning experience.
“University hasn’t been easy. I struggled with the writing and had to spend a lot of time in the library.
“I worked with the Learning Development Centre, but probably didn’t use it as much as I should have. The girl I worked with at the LDC made me feel so comfortable. She told me about the challenges she faced and gave me an insight into what she had achieved.
“It worked really well: I would basically send in a paragraph of work and they would then look it over and suggest how I could change things. It was a real confidence boost for me. As well as support from the LDC, I was also given a laptop and was given extra time with my assessments which made a big difference to me.
“I recently looked at my work at the start of university and compared it to now. The difference was massive – even the format of sentences and the wording has massively improved. I think my language has become a lot more technical, which has also come through reading academic journals as part of my coursework.”
Lynn added: “The level of support GCU offered overall has been phenomenal. I also couldn’t fault any of my lecturers. They were always so helpful, especially my personal tutor Laura Hall. I wouldn’t be here without all of the lecturers, but Laura was always there when I needed her.”
Ahead of graduation, Lynn once again reflected back on how far she’s come since deciding to step into higher education five years ago.
“I’m still pinching myself. Even being in here every day for the last few years still doesn’t seem real.
“I always thought I’d be looked at differently because I struggled with the academic side of things – that’s simply not the case. The job of lecturers and staff here is to get you to where you want to be, and they will support you through whatever challenges you’re facing.
“I’ve spoken to other students that are facing similar issues, and they agree that there is so much support there. The first step is just recognising you need a bit of help.”
Find out more about the different support available to GCU students here
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter