When did you study at RNC?
I was at RNC for 2 years, starting in 2013 and leaving in 2015.
What courses did you study?
A Level English Literature, A Level Psychology and A Level Sociology
Eye condition(s): Retinitis Pigmentosa, Cataracts, Nystagmus and Astigmatism.
What did you do when you first left RNC?
After gaining my A Levels, I went to the University of Central Lancashire and studied for a BA Hons in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies followed by an MA in Integrative Psychotherapy.
What are you doing now?
I am working part time as a Counsellor, for an organisation called Manx Care – the NHS equivalent on the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man is my home, I have always wanted to return here so I am incredibly happy to be back. Being in England for me was always a means to an end. The Island is a beautiful place and has so much to offer.
What was your experience at RNC like?
I didn’t really know many people my age with a severe visual impairment on the Isle of Man, so when I went to RNC it was great because we were all in the same boat.
We would quite often have conversations together where we would say, ‘do your parents do this?’ and ‘do you struggle doing this?’ and we would all have this shared brain of how other visually impaired young people go about doing things. I still have friendships today almost ten years on. These are lifelong friends that I connect with and travel around the UK to go and see often.
What advice would you give a student who is just starting out at RNC?
RNC is a safe environment to test yourself and find out who you are.
A lot of us have to fight really hard to get to the RNC so I think it is important to make the most of the opportunities on offer.
We are incredibly lucky to have RNC, its staff and volunteers.