I think it probably did affect my ability to study, because I think I was having these little partial seizures during my teens, but not really realising. The worst thing about having the diagnosis, was that I was in my GCSE year, and I was doing drama, and my drama teacher told my parents that he didn’t want me to sit my GCSE because I would affect my classmates. So that was really disappointing. So that I think had the most effect on me, and that’s why I didn’t continue to my A levels within that school, because I was really disappointed. I did go on to do my A levels in a college, but I didn’t do very well, and I think that’s because of all the medication that I was on.
I am currently studying towards to my psychology degree. I am doing this very slowly though, so it will take nine years actually to complete my degree because I am doing approximately a module every term. So that’s really exciting for me, because I did leave my first degree. I did go to university when I was nineteen, in Preston, but I had some very bad seizures and ended up leaving. But I am excited that I’m able to have a second chance and study towards psychology. I went off to university, in Preston – the University of Central Lancashire, when I was nineteen. I had a lovely time, but I don’t think I really looked after myself very well, as students probably don’t. What really became the crunch point is that during the beginning of my second year I had a very bad seizure and walked out the front door of our student house, and my friends didn’t know that I’d walked out. And I’d actually walked out with no clothes on because I’d just had a shower, and I was picked up by the police! And of course I had no ID, and the only thing I could remember myself was my phone number for home, here in Aberystwyth, so unfortunately my parents were called in Aberystwyth to say their daughter was found naked by the police in Preston! So I think that, really, was the crunch point, so I didn’t complete my degree – but it’s always a funny story to tell!
