In 2021, Heidi lost both of her parents due to illness and during her placement year, she began to experience PTSD and anxiety. This was particularly challenging as her placement was at a therapy clinic, supporting clients to improve their mental health, whilst she felt like her world was falling apart.
When she returned to studying in her final year and was given her dissertation topic, she found it difficult to find the motivation to complete it, and at times find the right support. But thanks to her personal tutor, Dr Clare Stevinson – and friends Jola and Hannah – she was able to complete her dissertation on time and finish her degree.
Heidi benefitted from the University’s free mental health services, especially the LU Wellbeing App which provided her with guidance on dealing with her anxiety and stress during the dissertation writing and exam periods. She took advantage of the academic writing workshops, and support from the Mathematics Learning Support Centre and the Careers Network. She also sought therapy to help her cope with her anxiety and PTSD.
Despite the hardships she was facing, Heidi strived to continue to develop the skills she would need to become a counsellor. Her proudest achievements are becoming a Mental Health and Wellbeing Facilitator through Hashtag Me, a mental health service run by a Loughborough alumna, and becoming a Mental Health First Aider.
Her favourite thing about Loughborough has been meeting people from all over the world and experiencing so many different cultures. Despite the challenges she faced during her placement year she appreciates that having the option to undertake one as part of her degree gave her valuable work experience she needed for her future career path.
On her university experience, she said: “My advice to any student would be to not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.”
Heidi plans to do a master’s in Counselling at Birmingham City University and achieve her BACP certification so she can practice as a counsellor back at home in the Cayman Islands. One day, she hopes to open her own clinic so she can support the mental health of her community and she wants to fund academic scholarships for students with aspirations of becoming a psychologist, enabling them to afford to go to the university of their choice.