Jasmine: “I always wanted to go to uni. I always knew that I could achieve more and be more than just a Cert 3 Dental Nurse. I had a lot of disadvantage in my younger life and then I had the stroke and it was my chance to study again because I can't dental nurse anymore. And safe to say I'm not too sad about that because I'm at uni and I can do whatever I want.”
What interests you about sociology and anthropology? Why did you decide to study those?
“Us as humans, in the way we're made up in cultures and things and why cultures are the way they are, is just, it's fascinating.
We're all influenced by everything around us, by pop culture, by our parents, by TV, media, the music that we listen to.
We're all influenced by everything. It's just, it's amazing how different cultures see and view disabilities as well. You know, some people hate it, some countries are amazed by it. Because in Thailand if you have a stroke, you're just at home bedridden.
So the Thai ladies [I volunteer with], they're amazed by me because they've never seen anyone with a stroke recover the way I have.”
Getting support for your studies
What sort of help can people get from the university? What has been your experience of accessing support for your studies?
“I have a Learning Access Plan through Deakin's Disability Resource Centre.
And so what that gives me, and it's varied from person to person. But with me I get an extra 50% time, so I get time and a half for quizzes and exams. I get special permission to use my laptop in exams if I need to. I get two weeks extension on assignments.
My Learning Access Plan gives me note-takers. So I can request note-takers for every subject that I'm doing. So, they'll take notes for my lectures. They can take notes for your seminars.
And there's learning and language advisors out there as well. There are writing tutors, math mentors, the library technician is always happy to help. You know, there's counselling on site, there's medical centres on site, there's just so much.”
Do you have to “prove” that you need extra help? Is getting a Learning Access Plan a complicated process?
“It was pretty simple. I just answered a few questions about what I would probably need and how I can't write very fast, how I probably need extra time because I’ve got fatigue, with physio and what not. And they read whatever medical documents they needed from my GP.
You have to prove that you have a medical, you know, that you need this support and things like that as well through a GP. But I don't think it's any more complex than just a GP letter saying that you've got this and that's what you need and things yeah.”
What to do before the semester starts
How would you suggest that someone prepare before the semester starts? We've spoken about a Learning Access Plan. So maybe that's something that they could have lined up.
Jasmine: “Access any scholarships that you're eligible for. Because there are so many scholarships out there that you're eligible for and for disability. And they’re thousands of dollars. The first year I got one for 15 grand and then the second year it was like 1500. I've had about four scholarships so far. So one for every year that I've been in Deakin. And they're all varying amounts and they’re cash payments. So you can do whatever you like with them.
Some come with responsibilities, some don't. But there is so many out there and you can apply through other parties as well to get like a laptop, supplied for you, if you need one. Or there's other funds, like places for international students. There's lots of options.
But honestly the thing that everyone thinks about is; “I've got to do this and I've got to do that and I’ve got to get some stationery and I've got to set up my desk.” But the biggest thing to remember is the units are opened a week before uni starts. Write down all your assignment dates, due dates. It will seem like a lot, but trust me it won't be that bad. Do some readings if you like.
And honestly, that's kind of it. Because in that first week of uni, if you're just starting, all the teachers and lecturers will be so kind to you.
And you know, they’ll answer any questions and no question is too silly because you’re all new. You're all trying to find your way. And there's so many supports out there and there's often peer support groups on Facebook for that subject that you're studying.
You can't really prepare. Just stay calm and be excited. And don't go buying stationery and printers because everything's online."
Managing fatigue while studying
Many young people that have had a stroke talk about how fatigue impacts them. And I imagine studying would be quite cognitively draining and fatiguing. How do you manage your fatigue, if you experience that, when you're studying?
“I do have to manage it. And I study mainly well in the morning. Like mid mornings. I do a lot of study then. Some Bachelors will have mandatory classes or requirements you have to attend to pass.
I had one of them recently and it was on a Thursday at about 7 o’clock after I had been volunteering all day. And I just could not engage because I was so fatigued. I was like, what is going on? And it was a Leadership Simulation, so we had to write an assignment on it. And I just said in the assignment, look, I was fatigued from it, and it caused me to have a poor outcome. I was just very honest in my reflection in my assignment and then gave an honest opinion on what I thought was going on. And I didn't fail on the assignment, I just passed it. But if that was a problem, it's in your Learning Access Plan.
Talk to the Unit Chair about it as well because they’re so open and can be flexible with mandatory. It's quite hard with mandatory requirements and fatigue, but you just got to reach out and talk to them. And if you are getting fatigued, you’re just going to have to schedule in your own times and take a lot of breaks, drink a lot of water. Staring at the screen can be tiring. Take breaks, put a screen protector on and talk to people, do it at your own time. And just enjoy it and lay down and rest when you have to.”
Looking after your mental wellbeing
What do you do to look after your mental wellbeing? Studying is stressful for everyone, but I imagine there are extra layers when you're contending with extra challenges on top of your studies.
Jasmine: My self-care is getting out and volunteering because I love being around people. And taking my dog out and just, you know, being out and about with people.
And also if I need sleep, I'll just take that extra hour as well and I'll study a week later because I know I have that extension.
I think it’s just understanding and knowing yourself and knowing what works best for you and it comes with time.
You’ll study first and be really regimented but then you get a little bit more relaxed because you figure out what works for you and what doesn't.
And it also really helps if what you're studying is engaging for you as well and you're really interested in that. Self-care is really personal and you’ll figure it out."
