Alexandra Strong |Student with The School of Health – alternative and complementary therapies

“Alexandra is one of those special School of Health students whom you just know that you will never forget. We were unanimous here in her being our first choice for Student of the Year.

Her severe mental challenges mean she was hospitalised for 5 years, is on medication and is now living in an assisted home. She is just 27. And yet Alex found the courage to come to our office to find out about homeopathy in January 2016. Barely able to look us in the eye, I spoke largely to her mother at that time, but it was clear that Alex was present and engaged.

None of us knew how she would cope. But here we are two and a half years later, and Alex is regularly and consistently producing fantastic work. Her pace is faster than many home study students and she is nearing the end of Year Two. Whilst her confidence is extremely low and she is aware of her limitations, she marches forwards regardless with a determination of spirit I feel we could all learn from.

Her tutor Jude has been the perfect match, and I see Alex thriving and growing at each step with Jude’s incredible care and attention. We manage her anxiety by delivering the course in small bites, Units sent one by one, and I send her gentle encouragement when she worries before each Unit is posted out. We always share our pet stories with one another!

Alex surprised us all this year when she announced that she would like to come to the School’s May event with Rajan Sankaran, our biggest event ever with nearly 200 people. Not only did she attend, but she looked after our blind graduate, Laura, (and her dog) all weekend and she sat right in front of Rajan, at the front.

We never know what is next with Alex and she constantly impresses me with her courage and conviction and her ability to keep moving forwards in this challenging course which asks for a commitment on both a personal and practical level. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Alex is one of those students who get me out of bed in the morning and I feel so privileged to be able to walk beside her on this incredible journey”.