Going back to uni after 3 years out due to my disability

SE9St8

Hi everyone 

I've been out of uni for 3 years due to my disability aka my chronic illness, which I got 4 years ago.

I made the tough decision 3 years ago to take a break from uni, hoping I'd go back soon, but it hasn't worked out that way and now I'm on my final year I can intermit my studies (because of their policy- which I already challenged and got this 3rd year extra out), aka take a break from. I have to have handed my work in by August at the very latest and start in September (as I took my break part way through the year).

Honestly, I've done hardly any work. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and also dissociative non-epileptic seizures, chronic pain, tachycardia, use a walking stick, have bad mental health all daily because of my chronic illness. Also, even before this I had 4 learning difficulties to contend with anyways, so I've always had to work twice or even 3 times as hard as everybody else.

What I'm trying to say is I need some advice from anyone who's been on an education break, or maybe even career break, on how the heck to get back? and any tips

I know it's a rather impossible challenge, as I can barely do anything I used to be able to do anyways without bad burn out, aka lack of spoons, but I really want to do my final year, because it means so much to me 💙

Thank you everyone 💙

Albus_Scope

Heya @SE9St8, it's great to hear you're wanting to continue your studies, but I totally get sometimes uni isn't set out for people who often lack the spoons to get everything done.
  My top tip is to be gentle with yourself, there's a lot going on in your life and I found uni took a certain mindset, which took a while to kick in as I was so out of practice with structured learning.  So just take your time with things and understand if things don't go as planned, it's totally ok to get a new plan going. The university is there to help you, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

SE9St8

Albus_Scope said:

Heya @SE9St8, it's great to hear you're wanting to continue your studies, but I totally get sometimes uni isn't set out for people who often lack the spoons to get everything done.
  My top tip is to be gentle with yourself, there's a lot going on in your life and I found uni took a certain mindset, which took a while to kick in as I was so out of practice with structured learning.  So just take your time with things and understand if things don't go as planned, it's totally ok to get a new plan going. The university is there to help you, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Thank you so much, I will do this! It's honestly so hard to decide, I am thinking about not going back to uni, but I'm so stuck.

I have asked my uni for help, so thank you 😀

66Mustang

Hi, I just want to wish you best of luck, I don't have any advice but I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to sat because I've been on an education break for over 10 years but I still dream of going to university

I hope you manage to finish off your course, it seems a shame not to do the final year, as you've done so well already

If it's OK to ask...what subject are you doing??

SE9St8

66Mustang said:

Hi, I just want to wish you best of luck, I don't have any advice but I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to sat because I've been on an education break for over 10 years but I still dream of going to university

I hope you manage to finish off your course, it seems a shame not to do the final year, as you've done so well already

If it's OK to ask...what subject are you doing??

Hi aw thank you! I hope you can go to university too someday 💙

I know right! I'm so close, but yet so far 😭 

Medieval and early modern history 😀 xx

66Mustang

Best of luck with it, sounds super interesting!!!!