A Year of Uncertainty

Tayyibah shares how difficult last year has been.

- Tayyibah Hussain

It has been a tough time for us all since 2020. We have all lost friends, family, colleagues, teachers and others. Last year had been tough on so many people’s mental health, too. We all had to stay safe ourselves and keep our loved ones safe. It had been a rollercoaster of a year; but through all of this, we reached so far. Of course, it has been difficult for us all; we have experienced many ups and downs. However, what matters the most is that we are all in this together.

Everyone should feel proud of themselves. After all, each person has been helpful and supportive to one another, which was especially difficult considering that many were struggling with their mental health. Being able to call or message someone to chat, or check up on them meant a lot to many people. I know that I am grateful for those who have stuck with me throughout all this. For me, personally, the jump from college to university was very daunting. I know that I probably was not the only one, but since I was not feeling confident and lacked social skills, I thought it would not go well.

However, during the first year of University, I became a student representative: something I had never even imagined. I have been supporting and helping others on the Early Childhood Studies degree whenever possible. I have been doing well so far with assignments despite the lack of self-belief, and it is particularly helpful when staff and others saw the potential in me, which I really appreciated. Moving onto the second year, I am very grateful to the Early Childhood Studies staff at Derby for supporting and helping not just myself but many other students. They gave them the belief and courage to push themselves, and the hope that they can achieve whatever they desire, with just that little support.

I, myself, have managed to achieve a lot, from being able to speak in small groups, to giving feedback and presenting just this semester. Despite the difficulties that I have faced, I managed to achieve a lot in a small period of time. However, the reason I brought this up is to remind everyone to be proud of their small achievements every day. Remember that there is always something positive in each day no matter how dull it may seem.

As they say, ‘there is always light at the end of the tunnel’. I agree that it is not easy, but it will get better. You just have to keep going on and remember we are in this together and we are all here to support one another. Remember you are loved and cared for. Nobody is alone!

Whether you are looking for support for your own mental health or supporting a friend, help is available.

       

Tayyibah Hussain is currently a student at the University of Derby studying Early Childhood Studies. Interested in Mental Health, Adverse Childhood Experiences and supporting others and hoping to inspire others to have self-belief and faith in themselves.