Change 100 has changed my life for the better

In my free time, I enjoy playing piano and going for long walks with my dogs. I have recently started walking long-distance paths. Last summer I walked the Suffolk Coast Path, and this summer I am walking the Norfolk Coast Path. I am passionate about sustainability, and I love animals – as well as my two dogs, I have four rescue hens and two rescue cockerels.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a concert pianist, and have worked hard towards achieving that goal. I attended the Junior Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and I competed internationally. When I was diagnosed with a chronic illness that causes fatigue and joint pain, I had to rethink my priorities and goals.

I have systemic lupus erythematosus, meaning that I have an overactive immune system that attacks healthy tissue, causing severe fatigue, joint pains, and organ damage. As a result of my lupus, I have developed chronic pancreatitis and cranial diabetes insipidus, a rare condition caused by damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus. I also developed osteoporosis, which has caused broken ribs and a broken vertebra in my back, and severe immune deficiency, causing recurrent serious infections, such as shingles, candidiasis, and sepsis.

School was challenging

School was very challenging. I first became unwell around the age of 15. I initially presented with joint pains and fatigue, which I blamed on too much piano practice. While studying for my A levels, I became very sick, and I was misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. After I began falling asleep during school my attendance became very poor. I dropped out of school to rest, and my future suddenly became very uncertain.

I applied to study Music at the universities of Oxford, Manchester, and Bristol and applied for Music with Russian at Birmingham. I also applied for conservatoire courses at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I had already decided that conservatoire might not be for me, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn't making that decision out of fear of failure. As it turned out, I achieved places in all the courses I applied for, and I decided to go to Oxford.

It effects my social life

My disability has had a significant effect on my social life. Because of chronic pancreatitis, I have to eat a strict low-fat diet and take medicines with food and I can't drink alcohol. I typically have to prepare my meals to control my condition, which makes it very difficult to eat out, travel, or share meals with friends, and has had a huge impact on my life, but I have learnt to adapt by learning to cook some very tasty low-fat meals. During my first term at university, I tried eating out with friends, and I ended up in the hospital.

Not having the traditional 3 A levels affected my options somewhat. For some internships, I had to apply for mitigating circumstances, which often delayed the application process. For others, I did not meet eligibility criteria and was discounted before I even had a chance to explain my story.

I felt very supported

I received support from my contact at Leonard Cheshire. They put a great deal of effort and care into matching me with a role and a company that suited my needs and interests. During my placement, my line manager and the rest of the team were hugely supportive. I came into the role with very limited experience, but I was very keen to learn. I was grateful that so many of my colleagues took the time to support me, especially early in the internship.

This helped me learn quickly and begin to work on exciting tasks and projects. I was also assigned a mentor, who met with me every week to discuss my career progression. We also discussed any concerns that I had or challenges I encountered with my work and beyond. He helped me to build my network and gave me advice for the next steps after the internship. The workplace environment was very friendly and supportive. I felt that I got to know people very well.

Change 100 changed my life

I am now in my final year at university—I am currently working on finishing my dissertation and coursework papers and preparing for my exams in May. After I finish my exams, I am taking a month's holiday to go hiking in the Lake District and walk the Norfolk Coast Path with my dog, Maggie, and then I start work at Cyted—the company I worked for during my Change 100 placement—in July.

Change 100 has changed my life. I never imagined that I would be going straight into a career in software engineering from a Music degree, and with a company whose ethos and values I share and admire.  I was quite concerned about the effect that my disability and my non-traditional academic trajectory would have on my graduate career prospects. So many companies use very limited criteria, such as school qualifications, to assess applicants before you can demonstrate your unique qualities and strengths.

Change 100 is truly unique—it takes a much broader outlook, allowing candidates who might otherwise be excluded to shine and succeed.