Narrative and Digital Learning Designer | EdTech Project Manager | Creative Technologist
Studying Abroad with a Chronic Illness: Part 2 A few weeks ago, I began a two-part series on preparing to study abroad while managing a chronic illness. Life has kept me busy, but here is the final part for those who may find it helpful. Advocate for Yourself Reflecting on my study abroad experience, I realize how crucial it was to advocate for myself from the outset of my program. Initially, I viewed my condition as an inconvenience for others and only spoke up when I was at my breaking point. Living with endometriosis, a condition that isn’t obvious, often made it difficult to justify my needs. One incident stands out in particular: our program required us to participate in a park clean-up activity involving extensive walking (which is a trigger for me). I was already on the brink of a flare-up and knew that joining in would be harmful to my health, yet I struggled to make this clear. As expected, I had to stop halfway through the clean-up, retreat to a trash collection van, and later ended up in the ER due to an excruciating flare-up. I couldn’t leave my room for days afterward. Looking back, I could have spared myself the pain and stress by simply saying no from the start. Towards the end of my program, my flare-ups became more frequent and painful. Realizing I could no longer manage the 20-hour work requirement (I had chosen work over a stipend because it paid more), I finally contacted my scholarship advisor. Nervous about the outcome, I explained my situation. After consulting the scholarship team, they reduced my work hours to 10 per week and provided a supplemental stipend to make up the difference. I was surprised at their willingness to accommodate me. It made me realize that I should have spoken up from the beginning. I had wrongly assumed the scholarship rules were rigid, and my hesitation to ask for help dampened my experience. Key Takeaways Don’t repeat my mistakes. Advocate for yourself from the very beginning, especially if you’re on a scholarship. You might be surprised at the flexibility and support available to you. Speak up about your needs without fear or shame—closed mouths don’t get fed, and the consequences of silence are yours alone to bear. Additionally, it’s important to advocate for yourself with medical professionals as well. They don’t know your medical history or the nuances of your condition, so it’s up to you to ensure your needs are understood and addressed. By being proactive and assertive, you can make your study abroad experience significantly more manageable and enjoyable even when managing a chronic illness. Good luck! #studyabroad #chronicillness #scholarships
Nana Sule
1mo
Sorry to hear about your health. Thank you for sharing, and wishing you all the best with your program.
Ruth Olajide
1mo
Your health comes first. Glad you are fine
Benedict C.
1mo
Great advice. Thanks for sharing
NHS Graduate Management Trainee
1moI think often times the guilt that people bear when they require those reasonable adjustments are barriers to speaking up, so, this is really helpful. Thank you for sharing Gbemi