11 minute read
Student experience
When times get tough
Did you know that over 87% of students experience feelings of anxiety whilst at university? From this, 42% described themselves as often or always worried and 1 in 3 reported experiencing a serious psychological issue for which they felt they needed professional help. *
We imagine you find these figures as concerning as we do. Mental health is a prominent issue in society as a whole and is no less so across the higher education sector. For many students, starting university is the biggest change in their lives so far, and it’s not always as straightforward as people think it will be. It’s easy to forget about the possible emotional impact that the transition can have.
Here we share with you the story of a Loughborough student who, in the face of adversity, took the opportunities and support available to him to transform not only his university experience, but his life.
Starting out Rahul had always wanted to go to Loughborough University. It was his first choice. He wanted to play hockey and study engineering. He even had a clear plan – study for an integrated master’s degree over five years that would give him an undergraduate and postgraduate qualification, followed by a PhD, and play hockey along the way.
Although he’d previously experienced difficulties with his mental health, he’d never thought of it as something that could affect him, and a lack of general awareness across society in comparison to today meant that it seemed easier to ignore it than act.
Things began to spiral Rahul’s first year at Loughborough went well. He experienced no major problems. It was at the beginning of his second year he first noticed things weren’t going so well. He struggled to concentrate, his attendance slipped, and his grades started to plummet.
“My situation started to affect my studies first and foremost – but then my social life too. I stopped talking to people because I felt so depressed. I stopped playing sports because I didn’t have any motivation to do anything I enjoyed anymore. Everything just fell apart. I felt like there was nothing left in my life worth pursuing.”
Rahul had no idea what was going on, but his school did. They recognised that there was an issue and put him on a leave of absence from his course. “They were excellent – they signposted me to all the correct people, putting me in touch with the Mental Health Support team at the University, the Counselling and Disability Service and the Medical Centre.”
During this process, things got worse for Rahul before they got better. Feeling like he had no purpose and nothing going on in his life, he couldn’t see a way to hold on to anything. He hit rock bottom.
Soon after though, through the support he’d been given previously, Rahul was finally given a diagnosis – he had Bipolar Disorder. He finally felt like he had something tangible to tackle and a way to explain what had been interfering with his daily life in such an extreme way.
Taking to the stage Rahul knew that the diagnosis alone wasn’t going to make things better. Still on a leave of absence from his course, he decided to go along to a mid-year bazaar being run by Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU) to see what was available to get involved with.
“I’d always perceived the Students’ Union as ‘where Freshers’ Week happens’ and in my first year I don’t think I’d ventured into the building during the day after that first week. It’s so much more though. I’ve said this before and will continue to say – LSU saved my life.”
Rahul signed up to the Stage Society. He’d done a little bit of drama at school and was really interested in theatre so thought it would be a good way to keep busy.
Being conscious of how he felt at the time, he didn’t go for any onstage roles, choosing instead to work behind the scenes doing sound engineering.
“It went really well, and everyone was super nice. I made some amazing friends, people I’m still friends with to this day.”
From this point, Rahul’s involvement in the Society escalated. He moved from backstage to centre stage and his confidence began to grow. Many of his peers in the society were involved in the Students’ Union too, and it was this introduction to and becoming involved with LSU that lead to Rahul feeling like he’d finally found himself again. This time he’d discovered who he truly was, rather than who he thought he was supposed to be.
“Everyone was so understanding, kind, patient and willing to help. Whenever I was feeling down or unable to contemplate doing anything, I would just go into LSU and sit in one of the offices and relax, knowing there were people there to talk to. For students who are struggling it creates a home, an environment where people can feel safe.”
Rahul’s involvement with LSU grew and grew. He was Chair of the Stage Society, a Hall Students Federation Societies Rep, sat on various committees and boards, and was heavily involved with the volunteering and fundraising arms of the Students’ Union and LSU Media.
Giving back Rahul went on to be elected as the President of LSU, seeing it as a great opportunity to give back to the community that had done so much for him.
“During my time at Loughborough I have been lucky enough to be involved in almost every aspect of LSU and gotten so much out of it. The people I’ve met, the things I have achieved, and the opportunities I’ve had, have made me a much better person than the student who arrived in September 2012. “We have something like 10,000 opportunities to get involved with at LSU, so it’s almost endless what you can do. I knew that if I could change just one student’s experience in the same way that mine had been, I’d see it as a successful year.”
An unexpected path Rahul’s Loughborough journey started out the same as many students here at Loughborough – he came here to get a top-class degree and play some sports. But no Loughborough journey is the same.
Everything changed for Rahul, which led him down an unexpected path. But with support and his new-found family at LSU, Rahul carved out a new path for himself – the path that he was clearly meant to be on.
How your support is helping
Students at Loughborough have access to a variety of services that can support them when in need. Whether it’s personal circumstances, their health, an academic issue or something else, there is always someone on campus ready to listen and support them in finding a solution.
This kind of support is available through both the University and Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU), and the services and opportunities they both provide are strongly supported by the generosity of our donors. Your support in the last year has:
Created a new space for the student voice Donations from the Loughborough Fund were gifted to LSU to complete a refit of the Student Voice, Representation and Advice Centre.
The Student Voice Centre provides essential representation and advice to students in times of need. The team also delivers training to hundreds of course and school representatives, and Peer Support volunteers, who deliver essential work across campus in support of the academic experience of our students.
Located inside the Students’ Union building, the department has grown significantly in recent years and is now a fundamental part of the support network available on campus. However, this growth means that the space they are operating from is no longer fit for purpose.
As the team often work with students in distress, they will use the donations to create a space that allows students to discuss their situation privately and with dignity.
Strengthened an essential service Donations from gifts in Wills were used to fund training, recruitment and raise awareness of the Nightline service.
The confidential, non-advisory listening and information service, that is run for students by trained student volunteers from the University, used the financial support to recruit and train 88 new volunteers, who went on to volunteer a total of 3,922 hours across 130 shifts.
The service, which has been running since 2015, was first established thanks to funding from donors. In addition to a listening ear, the team also run various other initiatives connected to student safety and welfare, including a Nightline Bus during term time which takes students safely home for free after a night out, puppy petting sessions and panel discussions for students about wellbeing and self-care.
Emily Sport and Exercise Science student —
Donations drive Loughborough students to car-racing success
Loughborough’s Formula Student team have moved into the Eccleston Student Engineering Centre and are using it to build this year’s car, LU Motorsport’s first ever electric Formula Student car.
The move, which was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors, has provided the team with a purpose-built space to work in and top-of-the-range equipment, such as a laptop that allows the team to collect and analyse data both trackside and in the lab. The relocation took place during the team’s most successful season to date – which saw them place 4th out of 81 teams at Formula Student UK and named best UK team in Austria whilst achieving their fastest ever skid pad time. Thanks to the support of donors, the team is looking forward to building upon these achievements in the upcoming season.
The Eccleston Student Engineering Centre is for students across all engineering disciplines, to design and build everything from models and prototypes to drones and race cars.
In 2018/19 the team had their most successful season to date 4th out of 81 teams at Formula Student UK
We would like to especially thank Loughborough Aeronautical Engineering alumnus and retired CEO of Airbus Americas, Barry Eccleston, and his wife Valerie, for their outstanding support for the new Eccleston Student Engineering Centre.
Funding the future
The brands and businesses that are a part of our everyday lives all started somewhere. No matter how big they are today, they will have started as a smaller operation.
The Start-Up Fund at Loughborough gives budding entrepreneurs at the University the chance to start their own entrepreneurial journey and develop the businesses of tomorrow.
The Fund is a vital part of the Loughborough Enterprise Network, an integrated programme that brings together activities and opportunities from across the University to support students and graduates at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
In 2018/19, 45 applications were made to the scheme, with 13 of the business ventures securing funding between £700 and £5,000. A substantial proportion of this funding was provided by donors, showing that the money they generously choose to give in the present is being invested in boosting the future.
Whether it be for equipment, software, product development or promotion, your support is helping these early-stage businesses to take their crucial next steps.
Tony Elkington
“In order to expand my business, I needed to invest in necessary software. The Start-Up Fund enabled me to do this without relying on loans at what was probably the business’s most vulnerable time.
Studio Elk Industrial design consultancy
“My business is a passion project at heart so being awarded the grant has shown me that other people believe in the idea too.
Bake Balance Protein brownies that taste even better than the bakery
Ashleigh Ponder
Adam Dismore Videography Producing digital content for the sports industry
