Submitted to the 18-25 Project

Often real experiences shared can help others identify and find hope and belief that things are possible.

I have had anorexia since I was 12 years old, over 7 years of my illness I have had several inpatient admissions and day patient ones to various eating disorder Units.

I originally had a place to study medicine at Kings College London, I achieved 5 A level grades at grade A so met the entrance requirements and was set to start my course September 2002. However I was admitted to hospital at a BMI of 10 soon after my A levels due to anorexia and was asked by Kings to have a year out to get myself into a better position to start the course. I went back to kings in June 2003 having achieved a health weight for confirmation of my place, however rather than confirm my place and say that I could start the course in September they withdrew me as they’d adopted a policy that they would not take a person with a long history of severe anorexia. I was devastated as a career in medicine had been a life long goal and it seemed too late to get to uni in 2003.

However I reapplied through UCAS fro a law degree as Law was my second choice of career option and personally rang all the law schools to explain my situation and late application. I received in July 2003 offers form all 6 law schools to which I applied to and chose to go to Southampton University Law School.

I began my degree in Sept 2003. This year has been hard, I’ve lived in self catered halls of residence which has helped me to stick to my meal plan, and by telling my flat mates of my problems around food I have helped myself as they prompt me to eat if it appears to them that I am struggling at any time.

I have a tendency to overwork which has been a big problem this year (60 hours work a week!) however I recently met a Uni mentor and this issue we are working on together to rectify for the next academic year.

Despite the hard times over the year at Uni has been fantastic I achieved a 2.1 overall for the year when I had never studied law before coming to Uni. I have 3 work placements in barrister’s chambers in London this summer and I have gained an international law exchange in Norway. Socially I have made good friends and am treasurer of the Uni Dance society and my halls of residence jcr. I am also running on the uni team and for the first time in my life I’m nearly content with who I am, my confidence is so much better than it was this time last year.

I have found the local eating disorders services are lacking and so have had to manage largely on my own and sought support from my old circle of friends and family who I could not have done the year without. I have found keeping a diary a life saver at times.

N from Southampton

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