Isabelle (Izzy) Kelleher, 19 years old. I am a first-year education and special educational needs student at Edge Hill University. A fun fact about me is that I hate butter. My hobby is swimming.
That made you join Thrive?
I joined Thrive because I was newly diagnosed as autistic in April 2024, before I started university, and I knew that I would struggle with the transition between a gap year and going to university. I also knew I would struggle to make friends and attend social events alone. I was feeling very apprehensive before joining Thrive purely because I did not know what to expect or how anything would work, but I knew it would benefit me in the long run.
What did you enjoy most about Thrive?
The thing I enjoyed the most about Thrive was the sessions before we started university, which introduced us to all the key departments and staff members. This is important for me as somebody who likes to be prepared and know everything about what will happen next. Also enjoyed the student life festival workshop, as it allowed me to meet new people.
How did Thrive support you?
Thrive supported me by helping me meet my best friend, and my coaching sessions helped me work out what steps I needed to take to maintain the relationship and how to ask people to meet up and go out together. This was a big moment of growth for me as I struggled to meet new people and maintain relationships. But I particularly struggle with reading social cues and being in social situations. Therefore, my coaching sessions were excellent in terms of helping me figure it all out.
Did anything surprise you about Thrive?
The coaching session surprised me the most about Thrive, as I expected them to sit down and chat about university life. However, these sessions were much deeper than that.
Can you share one challenge you faced in your first year, and how you tackled it?
I think that the biggest challenge I faced in my first year of university was my ability to read a social conversation. As previously mentioned, I am autistic and having a social conversation does not come naturally. I tackled this by talking to my Thrive coach and getting their view. I can also work out small steps that I could take to understand a social situation, and when there is conflict, I deal with it appropriately.
What advice would you give to students about to start Thrive?
Don’t worry about it, that is easier said than done. But in my own experience, worrying about the unknown isn’t going to change what is coming, so embrace it and enjoy it even though it may be difficult.
What are you up to now?
I have almost finished my first year of university and I am registered with a teaching agency to work with SEND children.