It’s been a busy and fulfilling few months for Daniel Crockett, who joined the University of Greenwich’s Medway Campus as a Biomedical Science student in September. His strong work ethic and skills have now seen him be appointed as an ambassador for the university’s STAART initiative, which supports students and prospective students who have a disability; long-term health condition; specific learning difficulty; and/or mental health condition.
Motivational experiences
Daniel has made great strides already with his studies already achieving excellent results in his course assessments. Meanwhile, as a STAART Ambassador, he has been presented with a number of exciting and varied opportunities.
I've represented STAART at the university’s Open Day, been to two workshops and networked with students and Dr Melanie Thorley. It's been really motivational and I hope I get more opportunities in this avenue in the future.
Other activities he has been involved in include creating and overseeing a WhatsApp group at the beginning of the year for new students to answer questions and put worries at ease; representing STAART at meetings with various members of staff and being part of the team setting up the buddy bench on campus, an initiative to encourage communication and a ‘listening ear’ across the university.
Far from being daunted by his new role, Daniel says he is in fact looking forward to the summer months, which is when he will be able to increase his hours from the twenty per week set for ambassadors!
Opportunities abound
With ADHD and schizophrenia, Daniel’s road to success has not come without its challenges. He has previously spent over two years in hospital, but he says this means it is even more satisfying “being involved with others” and making a difference. He finds he can build rapport and share his own story. “Even the little things I do are worth it for the way they make me feel.”
Not only is he developing himself and his prospects through his studies and his new role, but they are also helping him manage his mental health.
“I’ve got everything on track. I'm happy; I’m not stressed, and I’m busy, which I need to not be bored and feel wasted. Opportunities abound.”
The short-term motivates the long-term
When he isn’t in the lab or classroom for his studies or working as an ambassador, he might be seen revising for his upcoming Chemistry and Biology exams; watching recordings of lectures; reading back his notes and adding more ‘levels’ to them. Sunday might be a day when he has a phase test to complete, while Biology quizzes in the lab might take place in the week. He finds he can keep up with his work by staying organised and using resources available to him, for example using Moodle to catch up after a missed Biochemistry lecture.
He has made friends in student halls, and in his spare time he is currently reading books by clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison. He would like to write his own academic texts in the future. “Although a very long-term plan, this is the sort of thing that motivates me to perform in the short term.” Inspired by the NHS workers who supported his recovery in hospital, he also hopes to enter the field of cognitive neuroscience in the future, helping those with mental health conditions.
But it is his work as an ambassador that has been his university highlight so far. “It’s definitely one of the most rewarding things I’ve been involved with.”
