After spending some time reading a few fantastic, inspirational and interesting blogs, I felt like to was time to bite the bullet and write my own. It has been a long time since I have done any kind of writing, but it is such an essential skill to possess as a student. Practice makes perfect. Right?

Well, my name is Evan, and I am from an old mining village called Woodlands. It is part of a town called Doncaster, but when I think of where home is I often think of there. It’s where the majority of the experiences that shaped my life originate, and it’s still where plenty of my great family remain. I believe it was around the 1990s when the mine finally closed, so I was still fairly young and remember the impact it gradually had on the village as a whole. Looking back it was my first experience of how people’s employment opportunities can create social imbalances, and led to the exclusion of some social groups.

My early life is predominantly filled with fond memories of a real community spirit. As I grew up in the original houses built for the miners called the ‘squares’. There was a real sense that your neighbours became your extended family. The church had a huge impact on many peoples life’s, and to begin with I rarely remember a time when it went empty. My mother was responsible for opening up the church hall with my aunt. They were responsible for cleaning and making the meals for the elderly community (well I believed they volunteered). Many afternoons and weekends were spent creating havoc with my cousins and brother within the church hall. You would be surprised at the number of objects laying about in these old church halls.

When the vicar left the church, the great Michael Godfrey, the community spirit seemed to falter and break down. There didn’t exist that social support that had existed for families, and I remember it being especially impactful on mine. It is a sociologist dream. I am sure there are numerous opinions on what the tipping point to the village as a whole was. Be it the close of the mines, the limited work opportunities, the rise in crime, the breakdown of a religious/social group. I think each played an impact on the other.

I remember that as I reached secondary school the financial situation for most people within the village gradually took a turn for the worse. There was more of a reliance on social support, and milk/food vouchers. With that, there came an inherited stigma that you was part of a sub-normal part of society which did make life as a student difficult. It became less about who you are, and more about the shopping bag that you had been spotted with; Netto cursed so many children with their bright yellow bags. When you look at how societies views have shifted, it has almost become trendy to shop within a budget and to be seen shopping at the budget stores such as Lidl and Aldi.

I always enjoyed primary school, I felt a real sense of joy when I passed a milestone, and although I did have negative experiences in early childhood, I still remember it as a positive one. It changed when I reached secondary school. As I have said, the bullying and isolation felt in school was a real problem. I didn’t struggle with the work, just the individuals who also went to the school. There was no encouragement from the teachers, and I felt a real lack of motivation to excel as it was felt they had limited expectations of anyone’s achievements. So what was the point in trying to achieve? I remember reading since leaving a special measures report, from OFSTED, that recognised their circumstances limited the life chances of the students. Bleak reading.

I would do anything, and everything not to go to school. I would often wake up in the middle of the night to crawl into my mothers’ room to switch the alarm off. Such was my determination not to go. Much of my education came from books, and Channel Fours educational programming. Such a shame this doesn’t exist anymore, as it taught so much. I do feel a deep sense of regret and embarrassment of not only allowing a few narrow-minded individuals limit my experience of secondary school but more the added stress I had placed upon my mum from my utter refusal to go. I left school with a few GCSEs, less than what was expected of me at the time and settled into College.

Considering the course I am now studying; you would wonder what I was thinking when choosing my initial course: Advanced ICT, and computer science. I enjoyed the subject. I still do. I didn’t enjoy the work that came with it. It wasn’t long after starting college that I was offered an apprenticeship, which then progressed into an offer of a warehouse/computer system manager. Having a paycheck was a nice experience. It was a lot for an 18yr old, I had more money than I knew what to do with. And coming from an upbringing with very little, it felt like it was too much. I lasted about a year before it just became hard work enjoying any aspect of the role. It always felt like something was missing. So I applied for a position as a support worker.

I should explain why I went for this choice. I was lucky to have experienced a very diverse family background, with a mixture of people from different ethnic backgrounds and people with different disabilities, people with addictions, or a criminal history being in the family. I believe these people were valuable in shaping my own personal values. Ones which believe we should accept everyone’s individuality and differences while recognising what unites us. And for me, it was a family bond. I firmly believe we cannot judge people by our own expectations. Especially when we lack the ability to understand their experiences or life.

I was lucky to secure the position and spent 11+ years with the company that were enjoyable, educational and a highlight of my life experience. I no longer felt like an outsider or imposter in an environment. I had found an environment where I could be myself, and use my life experience and knowledge to make a positive impact in other people’s life. I made a great social group of friends, who I still believe are some of the greatest and were an invaluable source of support during some very challenging and tough times. They were a source of encouragement when I chose to go back to college to do my access course so I could apply for university. Powerful emotional support when my mum was going through treatment for cervical cancer, and supportive when I made the difficult decision to leave and focus on university. The individuals I worked with and helped to support, are still missed even now.

Challenging my own risk avoidance attitude continues to be a difficult one. I can stand up and advocate for another individual, and fight for their rights. But when it comes to my own, I still struggle to make myself heard. I have made, and continue to make strides. Within my working life, I showed my commitment and work ethic, having miminal time off (my longest running total was 6 years without a sick day – no rewards were given). Which is such a change when I look back on how I would fake illness on a weekly basis. Applying for college was such a nerve-wracking experience, I was putting myself back into an environment where those positive memories had slowly become eroded and replaced by negative ones. I had to study my GCSE subjects again in my first year alongside the college course full time with work, it was a stressful time but it was a success and meant I was one step closer to my dream.

I took a year out from college when my mum was diagnosed with Cancer, so I could still work and support her in her treatment and recovery. During this time I met my current girlfriend, and only long term stable relationship. That risk avoidance meant I just tempted to steer away from relationships due to bad experiences. She was and continues to be, such a positive spark in my life. She is not only a partner but a best friend. I can always rely on her support when I challenge myself to break those boundaries I have placed upon myself, and never complains when my focus may be elsewhere on studies.

Completing the second year of my college course meant I had to study long distance, which also meant I had to study without that peer support or direct support from the tutors. It was difficult and very stressful! Yet, somehow I passed with distinctions and even more surprisingly I was offered a place on my current course. It was the only course I had ever wanted to do.

And here we are. I’m a mature university student, studying a dual practitioner course in Learning Disability Nursing and Social Work. Taking every opportunity that comes my way, continuously trying to push my own boundaries and break my own barriers. I have discovered lecturers who are informative, knowledgeable, friendly and yet most importantly, passionate. It has been the highlight of my current teaching that I have lecturers who genuinely care about the inequalities in society and the lives of people with a learning disability. I have also made some great friends on the course, who are an excellent source of peer support. I wouldn’t have gotten through the first exam without them to bounce off.

Since starting university I have taken part in the University of Lifesavers. I have an upcoming place on the Council of Deans Leadership program, and I am hard at work creating accessible maps for people with a disability to use.

I believe we all have life experiences that shape who we are, these are just a snapshot of some of mine.

I am sure there are many errors in this writing; it was typed quickly on my phone. But I do thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope you have a great day. I will get around to spending a little longer proofreading as soon as I get the opportunity.