A Stroke Survivor’s Guide to Life at University

For many, memories of university life revolve around questionable nights out and adrenaline-fuelled study sessions taking place in the last days before an assignment was due.

As a recent graduate, I reflect fondly on my time at university, although my experiences were far from smooth sailing. Stroke survivors, such as myself, are likely to face unique challenges when navigating the complexities of university life.

Here, I have outlined a survival guide for young stroke survivors thinking of going to university.

In this guide, I highlight potential challenges you may face and how best to resolve them, so you can have as much fun at university as I did (well… maybe not quite as much).

1: Plan Ahead

Picture this. You’ve just completed your first few weeks at university, you find the seminars engaging and you’re passionate about the topics discussed in lectures. If you’re anything like me, however, no matter how hard you try, you’ll soon run out of steam. Fatigue was a major issue I faced while studying. To combat this, it’s best to plan ahead.

It’s common for lecturers to post their presentation slides online before their lectures (if they don’t, ask!). To save time writing pages of notes for every lecture, I found it useful to print out and annotate the lecturer’s presentation slides. This way, the information becomes far more digestible.

A second tip I learnt is to cook meals in bulk! After a busy day studying and attending lectures, the last thing you’ll want to do is cook (trust me!). Having the option to defrost a lasagne you made the other week will help you manage your energy levels, and start afresh the next day.

2: Pace Yourself

Managing extensive workloads is an undeniable challenge for most students at university. Luckily for you, however, there are sure-fire ways to help stroke survivors tackle the onslaught of assignment deadlines and exam dates, unscathed.

In the weeks (or sometimes months) before due dates, I found it useful to set myself mini-targets to be sure I was on track to finish a project on time, to the best of my ability.

Breaking down, often overwhelming, projects into bitesize tasks meant I could organise myself and focus on one component at a time. For young stroke survivors, like me, whose working memory was affected, this strategy is a guaranteed life-saver!

Another tip is to familiarise yourself with your university’s Disability Support Team. While I cannot be certain whether or not they bite, they are very handy when it comes to accessibility on campus, and getting you the help you need. When I felt I was unable to meet due dates, the team were happy to offer extensions! This meant I could pace myself with an assignment, and be sure I was pleased with the final draft.

3: Enjoy the University Experience

For me, one of the most exciting aspects of going to university was moving to a new city and exploring what it had to offer. While it is easy to become entangled in a web of deadlines, exam revision and seminar prep, it is important also to set aside time to de-stress and enjoy yourself. Attend a society that caught your interest during Fresher’s Week, or head to the student bar for a pint with your coursemates – you deserve it!

Ultimately, while university can be a daunting prospect, especially for young stroke survivors who already face day-to-day challenges, the experiences you’ll have will deepen your passion for learning and nurture your development as a person. You won’t regret it!