An Acknowledgment of Feelings of Pride

Hi everyone,

I hope that you’re all well and not too stressed about Term 3.

Today I want to talk to you about a certain feeling that I’ve been experiencing recently- pride. I only have 2 grades left to receive before I can work out my final degree classification, so I can’t think of a better time to write this post.

I am really proud of everything that I’ve managed to achieve over the past three years, for a multitude of reasons. Even though it is very obvious that I’m disabled, it is not something that I like to use as an ‘excuse’. I see myself as on par with non-disabled people most of the time. However, I think that the difficulties that I face due to my Cerebral Palsy should be acknowledged. Before starting university, I had received 1 to 1 support throughout the entirety of my educational career. This support was purely physical and involved tasks like scribing and helping me get from Point A to Point B in my wheelchair. When I started university, it became clear that physical support in higher education does not work in the same way. For that reason, I decided to try going it alone. To my surprise, I was able to manage it.

Warwick Disability Services were fantastic at putting things in place to help me achieve my goals, and you all know how much I sing the praises of the Film and Television Studies Department. I’m proud of myself for achieving everything that I have done on my own, even though sometimes it has left me exhausted. I feel as though it has really helped me to form solid relationships with my peers.

I’m also extremely proud of myself for completing my degree during a pandemic. Although I haven’t really stopped to consider it, I think the pandemic has had a big effect on me. My disability means that I am classed as ‘clinically vulnerable’. This has meant that I’ve spent a lot of time inside over the past year and a bit. I’m so grateful to now be fully vaccinated, but I can’t say that it hasn’t been difficult. 

Although the move to online learning has been helpful to me in some ways, I have desperately missed face to face interaction with those outside my household. I’m also proud of the fact that I’ve been able to maintain my position as a solid 2:1 student. I know that grades aren’t everything, but this was important to me. I also completed my dissertation in the pandemic. Although I didn’t get the exact grade that I was hoping for, I’m still proud of myself. It was the longest piece of work I’d ever written!

Even though the past year has been tough, I can honestly say that I’d complete my undergraduate degree again in a heartbeat. It makes me so happy to think that I’ll be hopefully returning to the department in the Autumn to complete my Masters!

I don’t want this post to make anyone feel bad, that wasn’t my intention. I just think that it’s important to reflect on and celebrate your achievements. What has been the proudest moment of your degree so far? Let me know below!