Clara’s Story: Part Two

20/07/2023

A lifelong dream of mine is to go on to become a doctor. At times this has felt so unobtainable, but I knew that I had to try as I didn’t want to regret not going for it. I recently made the decision to leave my role as Welfare Rights Worker at Manchester Mind and apply to medical school. Some of the medical schools require work experience, so I have take on a support worker role in the NHS working in the community. As well as this I returned to one of the wards at Laureate House where the consultant kindly allowed me to shadow herself and the junior doctors for a week, which was incredible. This week I have started the training for my new job, which I am loving.

Last week I graduated from my Master’s degree in Social Policy passing with merit. This has given me great insight into the history of the welfare state and has linked what I was doing at Manchester Mind with my future career in the NHS.

In the coming weeks, I have to sit two separate entrance exams for the universities where I will apply to study medicine. Petrified does not even begin to describe how I’m feeling, but I understand that it is part of the process to get into medical school and so far I have managed to push through the at times overwhelming anxiety and thoughts that I’m just not good enough. I keep having to ground myself and reinforce the idea that places at medical school are hard to get, but I have as much of a chance as anyone else at getting one.

Another milestone that I am so proud to say that I have reached is being discharged from secondary care mental health services and back to the care of my GP. I am still on medication, which I believe is keeping me stable and have wonderful support from my GP and those around me. It’s fair to say that it is possible to follow a journey of recovery. It might not always be easy and it may take time, but you will get there. And don’t forget to follow your dreams!