ALISON ROBINSON NOT LETTING DISABILITY DEFINE ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Studying a postgraduate degree can be a challenge, especially for those balancing family life and living with a disability. Ali Robinson is proof that if you have the determination to succeed and support from LJMU, nothing can stop you.

Mum of two, Ali Robinson, returned to education to study a master’s in Mental Health to enhance her career in counselling and expose herself to new opportunities. However, with taking care of her two children and living with a disability, she sometimes felt that she required support to make sure she achieved her goals.

“It has been hard work but I’m in a really exciting place now,” Ali says, smiling. “I’ve got so many professional opportunities that I would never have had before. My goal was to be able to work in the mental health sector and really make a difference to people’s lives. I’m now providing counselling and mental health advisory services both within schools and with private clients. It’s a dream come true!” In addition to this, the skills that Ali has gained during her studies have allowed her to reach new heights in her career. “I feel like my master’s has allowed me to add specific services to my private practice and hopefully I will be further utilising it with some of my plans and ideas moving forward. I genuinely feel that it has put me in a very privileged position within my career.”

LJMU was an obvious choice for Ali, as she was already aware of its great reputation. “I already knew of the University and the work it does, because they have a really good Outreach team who visit my children’s schools and the college I was studying in,” Ali explains. “Besides that, LJMU was the one university that offered the course I really wanted to do. The course programme and the modules available were too good to miss – it really looked amazing!”

Choosing to study her master’s was a difficult decision for Ali because she had to consider how she would balance her study with family commitments and fluctuating health due to fibromyalgia and ME. Despite these barriers, she was able to achieve her goals by taking advantage of the support and wide variety of services available to her as an LJMU student. “Before starting my studies, I was able to contact my course leader and ask the questions I needed to about my disability,” Ali says. “I felt totally reassured that they would help me every step of the way. LJMU has an amazing support system in place for students. When I’ve had to miss any part of the programme due to my health, they have put in extra tutorials for me or given me extensions for assignments when necessary. I’ve felt supported in my mental health too, with staff just checking in to make sure I’m okay.”

“I’ve spent many years allowing my disability to define me,” Ali admits. “I thought my dreams would never be achievable due to my illness. But now I won’t let my disability define me – I can be the driving force of my own future. If you want it enough, you can do it, and there is so much support available for you at LJMU. It’s just been amazing – an amazing achievement.”