If you had asked me before I was 18 what I wanted to be, the answer would have been simple. I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to care for people, to help, to make a difference. What I did not have at that point was the language, the confidence, or the support to understand why school felt so hard for me.
I am dyslexic, hard of hearing, and I am currently on the waiting list for autism and ADHD assessments. Back then, I just knew that reading was exhausting, lessons moved too fast, and I always felt like I was playing catch-up. I did not learn to read until I was 13, and even then, speed was never my friend.
I still remember sitting my English GCSE. I spent three quarters of the exam time just reading the paper. Not because I did not understand it, but because reading took me longer. By the time I reached the questions, the clock was already working against me. That feeling of pressure stayed with me for a long time.
Early College Years and Letting Go of the Original Plan
After school, I enrolled in several units of an NVQ in caring. On paper, it made sense. Nursing was still the dream, and caring felt like the right stepping stone. But sometimes something can be a good idea and still not be right for you.
I realised fairly quickly that it was not for me. Around the same time, a close friend was studying beauty therapy and absolutely loved it. She was thriving, confident, and genuinely excited about learning. For the first time, I allowed myself to consider a different path.
The following year, I enrolled at Llandrillo College to study beauty therapy. I completed my Level 2 and started my Level 3, but halfway through I made the difficult decision to leave. I was being bullied, and staying would have meant sacrificing my wellbeing just to push through. That decision was not easy, but it was necessary.
I transferred to Coleg Menai, where I completed my Level 3. That move mattered more than I realised at the time. It taught me that changing direction is not failure. Sometimes it is self-respect.
Confidence Found at Sea
After college, I worked on cruise ships in the spa. That chapter of my life changed me. Living and working at sea pushed me far outside my comfort zone. I gained confidence, independence, and belief in myself. I learned how to talk to people, how to hold my own, and how capable I actually was.
When I eventually returned home, something had shifted. University no longer felt impossible. It felt like something I could at least ask about.
Returning to Education as an Adult Learner
Because I had been out of education for a while, I was advised to complete an Access to Higher Education course. I also needed to resit my English GCSE. So I enrolled at Varndean College.
Going back into education as an adult learner was daunting, but also empowering. I approached learning differently this time. I knew myself better. I understood my challenges more clearly. I was not trying to fit into a system blindly anymore. I was advocating for myself, even when it felt uncomfortable.
Once I completed the Access course and my English GCSE, I applied to Brighton University.
Brighton University and Becoming a Podiatrist
I studied podiatry at Brighton University. It was hard. There were moments where I thought I would not make it. In my first year, I came very close to failing. One lecturer spotted something others had missed and gently suggested that I might be dyslexic. That conversation changed everything.
Although I no longer work as a podiatrist, I truly believe that degree shaped me. It taught me how to think clinically, how to communicate with empathy, and how to persist when things feel overwhelming. It also taught me that success does not always look like staying in the same career forever.
What I Want Parents and Neurodiverse Adults to Know
Education does not have to be linear to be valid. It does not have to be fast to be meaningful. And it certainly does not have to look the same for everyone.
If you are a parent worrying about your child’s development, or a neurodiverse adult questioning whether it is too late to start again, I want you to know this. The long way round is still a way forward.
Every college, every course, every change of direction taught me something. None of it was wasted.
Call to Action
If this story resonated with you, please like and subscribe to the blog so you do not miss future posts. I share honest reflections on parenting, neurodiversity, education, and navigating life when the traditional path does not quite fit.
I would also love to hear from you. Did your education journey take an unexpected route? Leave a comment or share this post with someone who might need reassurance that they are not behind.
References
British Dyslexia Association. Dyslexia and Education in the UK NHS. Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD Assessment Pathways UCAS. Access to Higher Education Diplomas Department for Education. Adult Learning and GCSE Resits Brighton University. School of Health Sciences and Podiatry
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