Nicole Royles graduates with First Class degree despite heart surgery, ear operations and hospital admissions
A Chorley student who has undergone heart surgery and numerous ear operations while studying at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has celebrated gaining a First Class honours degree.
Nicole Royles’ time at the Preston based University has been blighted by heart and ear operations plus frequent hospital admissions but this has not prevented her from continuing to study for her counselling and psychotherapy degree.
The 23-year-old said: “Throughout my time at University I have undergone heart surgery and many ear operations. Only in January this year I was in hospital for heart surgery whilst researching for my dissertation.
“I have also been admitted to hospital on many occasions due to fainting so having to juggle University assignments and lectures, along with a part-time job, was extremely difficult at times. It resulted in me even contemplating quitting and giving up but with the help of my tutors, and the excellent support staff, I managed to do it.
"I feel unbelievably proud and I am still in shock with how far I have come, especially as I was told by lots of people that I couldn’t do it and that I was wasting my time"
“I feel unbelievably proud and I am still in shock with how far I have come, especially as I was told by lots of people that I couldn’t do it and that I was wasting my time.”
The former Southlands High School and Blackburn College student chose counselling and psychotherapy because of her own personal experience in her formative years.
She said: “Having gone through a difficult childhood due to many things, and being unsupported by local services, I wanted to be able to make a difference and help and support others in any way that I could, and this course provided a great platform for me to be able to that. It also taught me a lot about myself, which enabled me to gain in confidence and knowledge.”
Nicole, who has been supported through her three year course by her fiancé Scott Grime, has successfully gained an internship position as a Student Mentor Coordinator and is hopeful of studying for a Masters at some point in the near future.