Fourth year Diagnostic Radiography student Julia shares her experience of the course and the support she received at RGU with many personal challenges including being a carer for her dad and experiencing a stroke at just 24 years-old.
Why Radiography?
My name is Julia and I am currently in my fourth year studying Diagnostic Radiography. I am 24, and when I left school at 18 I had no clue what I wanted to do. I decided to apply for any and every job that I could in my local area and ended up in dental nursing.
During my time studying for my qualification and working full time, the Dentists I worked with would take a lot of intra-oral x-rays as routine to diagnose issues that could not be seen above the gums. Alongside this, I learned a lot at college about the importance of x-rays and radiation protection. From there, I knew I did not want to do dental nursing forever and so decided to do a night course at college to get my higher human biology (I wasn’t great at school).
Thankfully, this experience and finally a pass at biology meant I was accepted at RGU for the Diagnostic Radiography course.
How was your experience of the course going through many personal challenges?
My first year was during COVID-19 so I did a lot of self-teaching and relied on my previous knowledge of anatomy to get through. However, I loved every second of it. My favourite part of this course has been placement. Getting hands-on experience and putting book knowledge into practice has cemented my love for the course. It also helps that I love to talk and build rapport with patients.
Unfortunately, during my first year, my father was suffering with dementia and so juggling studying and being his carer was a unique experience to say the least. However, the support from placement sites, lecturers and friends got me through and I am still in the course so I must have done something right!
During the summer of 2024 (just before starting my fourth year), I suffered an ischemic stroke that majorly affected my speech, word finding, and overall concentration. I had many appointments to attend and felt worried about returning to university. Again however, after relaying my concerns to the lecturers and insisting that I continued as normally as possible, I was listened to and referred to the appropriate people to discuss additional support for the duration of my course.
I spoke to the Inclusion Centre and Occupational Health who both agreed that it was important for me to take things at my own pace. Therefore, measures were put in place to ensure I was able to continue my studies. Although to some this may have knocked them back, and some days it does feel like I should have given myself some rest, I am so thankful to the team at RGU for their understanding and overall compassion towards me during this time.
Do you have any advice to share to current and future students?
Ultimately, my advice to students is: communication with the lecturing team and placement site co-ordinators is key. If they don’t know your struggles and concerns then they won’t be able to assist you in getting the best out of your time.
I would not have been able to continue this course if it wasn’t for the support from the University, and I am so glad they allowed me to adapt my learning so that hopefully I will graduate next summer with the rest of my class.
Julia Calder
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