Stephanie Kennedy

After many years of aspiring to complete a degree, visiting universities with my daughters rekindled my passion for learning and planted the seed that it was finally my time. Their journeys inspired me to take the leap, and enrolling in the Fastrack course gave me the confidence and foundation I needed to pursue my long-held dream of progressing onto the degree.

There are so many things I loved about studying at Edge Hill. The beautiful campus and welcoming environment made it a place I looked forward to being at every day, while the phenomenal lecturers went above and beyond to support our success. One of the most special aspects for me was completing the same course alongside my daughter, which made the experience even more meaningful. I also had the privilege of meeting inspiring peers who have now become lifelong friends. Earning my degree has rekindled my passion for learning and made me eager to return for a postgraduate course.

During my final year, I attended Barnardo’s Resilience Service as part of my work placement, gaining hands-on experience supporting young people with low-level anxiety through psychoeducation and practical interventions. I was able to work independently and confidently, applying my learning without needing to rely on tutor support, which strengthened my skills and self-assurance. This placement gave me practical experience and built confidence that I believe will be directly valuable when applying for EMHP training programmes.

Three key skills I have gained from my degree are resilience, time management, and effective communication. My resilience helped me stay focused and motivated when life presented challenges, enabling me to continue making academic and personal progress. Time management enabled me to meet deadlines consistently while balancing work, voluntary placements, and study, a skill that will be invaluable for future career and postgraduate opportunities. Effective communication has been essential when working with young people, families, and professionals, allowing me to ensure that children feel safe, heard, and valued while collaborating effectively to support their well-being.

I proactively used the online careers portal to review my CV and attended career guidance meetings in my second year to explore and establish potential career paths, which helped me plan my future and feel confident about the next steps in my career. I also attended workshops in my first year to improve my assignment structure. The staff are incredibly supportive, always happy to meet face-to-face or via Teams, and I would strongly recommend students take advantage of these resources as they genuinely help reduce stress. Utilising this support enabled me to achieve a First-Class degree and the Study Prize for the highest dissertation score by the end of my third year. Persevering through the difficult moments is worth it, as the sense of achievement and confidence gained on graduation day is truly unforgettable.

My overall experience as a student at Edge Hill University was incredibly positive and rewarding. Highlights included completing my degree alongside my daughter, which made the journey even more meaningful; engaging with supportive lecturers who went above and beyond to help me succeed; and building lasting friendships with my peers. I also valued the opportunities to attend workshops on assignment structure, career guidance sessions, and use the online careers portal, all of which helped me feel prepared for both academic and professional development. My advice to other students would be to make full use of the support available, attend workshops, seek guidance from staff, and stay organised and resilient, even when challenges arise.

My degree in BSc (Hons) Child & Adolescent Mental Health & Wellbeing has prepared me exceptionally well for a career as an Education Mental Health Practitioner. Modules covering child development, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and evidence-based interventions provided me with a solid theoretical foundation, while assessments such as my dissertation, focused on the challenges young people face when transitioning from primary to secondary school, enhanced my research, analytical, and reflective skills. Work placements, including at Barnardo’s Resilience Service, offered practical experience supporting children with low-level anxiety through psychoeducation and interventions. Employability activities like careers fairs, CV workshops, and guidance meetings further developed my professional skills and career planning, ensuring I am confident and well-prepared to apply my knowledge in real-world settings.

I am currently still in my previous role of a Support Worker/Teaching Assistant while waiting for the Education Mental Health Practitioner positions to be advertised, and I look forward to the application process and the opportunity to take the next step in my career, supporting children and young people’s mental health. As I work for an agency, I have some flexibility in choosing my roles, and this academic year I opted to support students in a SEND college setting to broaden my experience. Having worked in primary schools for ten years, this position enables me to develop my skills with older students and gain a deeper understanding of the educational landscape, which will enhance my expertise in supporting young people’s mental health. My favourite part of the job is supporting students to reach their academic milestones while also nurturing their social and emotional well-being. Seeing students grow in confidence, achieve their goals, and develop resilience is incredibly rewarding.

My future career plans involve progressing within child and adolescent mental health support, building on my experience in education settings to develop specialist skills as an Education Mental Health Practitioner. I am eager to continue learning through evidence-based training, gain hands-on experience delivering interventions, and broaden my expertise across different educational stages and settings. Ultimately, I aim to make a meaningful impact on the mental health and well-being of children and young people while continuing my professional development within the NHS or related services.