Editor“I was just existing, not living” — Port Talbot’s Ayla beats the odds to graduate as mental health nurse
The Sandfields student collected her BSc Nursing (Mental Health) from Swansea University this week, a moment she once thought impossible.
“I was experiencing paranoia and mania — I was really unwell, and it affected my schooling very badly. I had to be home schooled, and I left education without any kind of qualification,” Ayla recalled.
By 18 she felt isolated and hopeless.
“I had no friends and no social life. I was just existing, not living. The drugs slurred my speech, and I was sleeping during the day. I knew I wanted to take control of my life, I had to break free from the fear.”
Determined to become a nurse, she enrolled at Afan College to gain access qualifications. With support from lecturers and family, she began to rebuild her confidence.
A turning point came when she met campaigner Jonny Benjamin, founder of the charity Beyond. He invited her onto a youth board and asked her to contribute to The Book of Hope: 101 Voices on Overcoming Adversity — alongside Joe Wicks, Dame Kelly Holmes and Zoe Sugg.
“That gave me a huge confidence boost and led to me applying to Swansea to study nursing,” Ayla said.
At Swansea University she was paired with specialist mentor Pamela Johnson through the wellbeing service.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without her,” Ayla said. “I would never have been able to cope. I am so grateful.”
Pamela praised her resilience:
“Ayla has worked incredibly hard throughout her course to manage her mental health while consistently working to the best of her ability.”
Now qualified, Ayla wants to use her experience to change the way schools support young people.
“I hope to raise awareness and make changes within schools to help children and young people struggling with mental ill health in a supportive and inclusive way, all the while sharing hope that we can still achieve our dreams.”
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