General worry/ don't know what to do.

Ok, firstly I'm sorry if this is a bit long...

Basically I'm currently coming to the end of my gap year. It hasn't been quite what I imagined it to be. I worked full time and then did some teaching in Ghana which although was difficult was highly rewarding. I have a history of depression (was hospitalised 4 years ago for 18 months) and unfortunately it is obviously affecting me again. I'm taking anti depressants and have just started seeing a therapist which is so far useful.

My real problem I guess is whether to go to university in September ( I currently have an unconditional place at Edinburgh). I'm not sure whether to take another year out and concentrate on getting well again. As well as emotional issues I keep becoming physically unwell- currently I have a kidney infection. I don't want to start university being thoroughly run down.

If I do defer another year I would be almost 22 when I start university and as Edinburgh is a 4 year course I would not graduate until I was 26. My mum thinks I should reapply to a university closer to home (I'm London based) and defer a year. I'm really stuck as to what to do.

Any advice would be much apprecitated!

Reply 1

dh00001

its up to you as to where you want to go. only you know where you would prefere to go. having another year out to get well is probably a good idea. just remember its your choice and dont let your mum influence you if you dont want it

Reply 2

Sweet-Euphoria

I'd speak to your doctor about the kidney infection and find out what the long and short term effects are going to be, and how this would affect you at university.

You've already shown that you can take care of yourself by living and working in Ghana for a period of time. I don't see why living in Scotland would be any different. Your mother, like all mothers just wants you close by, it's natural.

I think university would be a positive experience and provided your fit I don't see why you should defer another year if this is what you want to do. Do you want to become a teacher?

Reply 3

simple_things

i'm not at uni yet, but it feels like it's going to be very up and down for the first year, if not more. had a lot of people telling me it is. wherever you go, whenever you go, make sure you have a stable support system in place cos it'll help you to no end. go wherever you think you'll feel happiest and safest. if it doesn't work out just move back home. nothing ventured, nothing gained and you can take the rest of the year out if it doesn't work out.
your university will give you plenty of help and advice to make things easier for you if you tell them whats up. also, have you thought about open university at all?

Reply 4

Sarky

How important is being close to home for you? I was in a similar situation and planned a gap year in advance as i knew i wouldn't be ready for uni straight after sixth form.

I had an offer from somwhere in London, and one from Southampton. For me, home was part of my problems so even though i had a good support network in terms of the NHS, i chose to leave to make a fresh start. I am near enough so that i can go home when i need/want to, but i am not being held back by the memories that surrounded me living at home.

However if home is a positive aspect in your life then living so far away in Edinburgh is gonna be a bitch at the best of times. I am lucky in that the support network at uni has been very good for me, but others have not been so lucky. I have also been in hospital at least 5 times since i started uni (funnily enough with kidney infections) and at times i wish i was closer to home for that reason.

Sorry i haven't helped much. Well done for going away and doing something in your gap year. It must be horrible to be ill again but you have come through things before and you can do again. :smile:

Reply 5

Obscured

Thank you for all the kind replies. I still don't know what to do bu tI think I may ring Edinburgh and see if in theory I could defer another year. Maybe a year of getting better again is what I need. I'm reluctant to give up my Edinburgh place because I fell in love with the city!

Thanks again xxx

Reply 6

AverageGuyOnTheStreet

If you want to defer so that you have an extra year to recover then go for it and good luck. I am also considering deferring my entry but think that now is too soon to decide. It is better to be well before you start uni, I think.