Alasdair opens up about personal battles during his studies
A Weeton graduate has overcome mental health issues to succeed at University.
Alasdair Kilgallen has graduated with a BA (Hons) Strength and Conditioning degree from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), despite also juggling working full-time at Aldi and battling with anxiety and depression during his five-years of study.
After leaving King Edward VII and The Queen Mary Sixth Form, Alasdair’s sole focus was joining the Royal Marines but an injury during training meant this was no longer an option.
The 30-year-old said: “Suddenly I had no direction. Effectively the carpet was taken from under me and I became extremely unhappy working dead-end jobs, spending my time unwisely, and falling into bad crowds.
“I quickly became a person I now realise was difficult to be around. Unreliable and untrustworthy, making life difficult for the family around me and going in no real direction.”
"I quickly became a person I now realise was difficult to be around. Unreliable and untrustworthy, making life difficult for the family around me and going in no real direction"
— Strength and Conditioning graduate Alasdair Kilgallen
It was Alasdair’s long-time girlfriend Lucy McGurrell, a UCLan graduate herself, who suggested studying a degree related to his passion for weight-training and athletic performance.
Following a successful foundation year, Alasdair’s attendance gradually dropped in his first year when his mental health struggles began.
He said: “One morning, I parked at my usual place to walk the rest of the way into uni when I suddenly started having what I now realise was a panic attack. This had never previously happened to me, certainly not to this extent, occasionally I became anxious in certain situations but I just put it down to nerves or something similar.”
Alasdair, who is originally from Fulwood, initially refused to believe there was a real problem with his mental health but was immediately diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression by his GP, which stemmed from the loss of his initial career dreams of becoming a Royal Marine.
His course leader referred him to well-being officer Joseph Pryle who helped to create a support plan but Alasdair’s mental health took another downward turn and he had to repeat his second year.
"Joseph’s support has been incredible. His help in the middle of my studies was genuinely invaluable to me, both with getting me to finish my degree and with the wider picture with my own well-being"
— Alasdair Kilgallen, who has overcome mental health issues
He said: “This really was the toughest point for me, I didn’t want to be at university anymore and my mental health was really leading me down a dark path. Despite me desperately wanting to quit uni I spoke again with Joseph, and we agreed for me to take a break and begin my second year again."
Thankfully, Alasdair’s mental health improved in his final year. “I could see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “I took my laptop on holiday with me and was working on my dissertation in a holiday cottage before anyone else was awake in the morning. I was committed to finishing this.
“Joseph’s support has been incredible. His help in the middle of my studies was genuinely invaluable to me, both with getting me to finish my degree and with the wider picture with my own well-being.”
Alasdair, who has now begun applying for graduate jobs, added: “I would like to explore helping others, potentially young adults that are troubled like I was in my late teens, and combine it with sport in some capacity. I am incredibly proud of completing my degree and glad I persevered when things were at their bleakest. I am now genuinely excited to see what happens in the future.”
Written by Humayra Patel