Jessica Brice
Course
BA degree in English at Leicester University. In my first year of a three year course
Qualifications and experience:
I found it hard to concentrate or read in the sixth form. I lost interest in working and often spent part of my day asleep on a desk or in the medical room. I was diagnosed with depression and then Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. At the time I wasn’t quite sure how I would survive university but was determined not to let anything hold me back. I studied A Level Art, English and French. I didn’t do as well as I had hoped in my A2-level exams in the summer so decided to repeat year 13 again. I had excellent support from my school and in the end came out with an A, B and D, which was better than I hoped for at the time.
How is the course going?
I have found the past year at university very challenging but have been able to enjoy it at the same time. It is difficult when friends go out for the night and I have to stay in because I know that if I don’t go to bed I will be too tired to make it into university the next day. The heavy reading load has been difficult. I have had to read the bare minimum that is needed and with the help of coloured overlays it has been possible to complete most of the work needed. Having essay deadlines extended by my tutor has been a huge help. I find it difficult to concentrate for a whole hour, so I got a dictaphone, with my DSA funding, to tape lectures. It has been invaluable, especially as the workload increased coming up to exams
Who and what have helped me to succeed?
Having had support from friends, course tutors, the AccessAbility Centre and a personal mentor has made my first year go much more smoothly than it otherwise might have done. Also, being able to have extra support in the way of a computer, dictaphone, internet access and extra books through my DSA has been really helpful.
