Nendrum College was a major turning point in my life. I initially started Year 8 at a different school, but after months of panic attacks, my mum decided to find another school for me, and I joined Nendrum around Easter time. When I first arrived at Nendrum, I had very little self confidence, I wasn't sleeping properly, I was experiencing very regular panic attacks and I wasn't in a good place. The staff at Nendrum were very supportive, and I settled in very quickly. Nendrum completely changed my life, and I was involved in so many aspects of school life- school trips, fundraising, charity work, public speaking, debating, and committees. In Year 8, I struggled to speak in front of my class, and by Year 10 I was public speaking competitively. The English Department at Nendrum is exceptional and I can't thank Mrs Butler and Miss Thompson enough for all the time they invested in my journey. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support, guidance, and encouragement I received during my time at Nendrum. Nendrum will always have a special place in my heart, and I was so disappointed that I had to move schools again to complete my A-Levels, it would make me so happy if Nendrum built a sixth form! After Nendrum, I completed my A-Levels in English, History and Politics before completing an undergraduate degree in English and Politics at Queen's University, and last year, I graduated with a Master of Science in Psychological Science. Perseverance is key in life- I struggled the most with Maths, Science and IT at school, but they ended up being an essential part of my Master's degree, and I am forever grateful for these teachers who had A LOT of patience. I have been working in mental health since May 2022, and I have recently accepted a position as Team Leader within MACS, Northern Ireland's only youth-specific homelessness charity which I will be starting very shortly. My next step is to complete my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Queen's University which will enable me to become a clinical psychologist.