Bhavandeep, from Littleover, achieved a B grade in Criminology and C grades in English and Psychology and thought she had missed out on her first choice of university who had previously stipulated B grades.
Supported by staff, she logged onto the UCAS website to find that she had been accepted. This was just the news she needed to go onto celebrate her birthday with friends Doya Ibrahim who has gained a place at Sheffield Hallam University to study Economics and Business and Annalise Richards who is due to start a Digital Marketing apprenticeship in the coming days.
Bhavandeep has had a tough summer since finishing her exams. A long-running stomach problem came to a head in early July when she was rushed into hospital and eventually diagnosed with a pancreatic condition which is now being treated.
She said: “I was in a complete state by the time I got to College to pick up my results having overslept and not feeling well for the past few weeks.
“When I opened the results I thought I had not done enough to go to Leicester University but the staff calmed me down and I was over the moon when I saw that I had accepted.”
Bhavandeep has been an active member of the study body and the NUS over the past two years and has won national recognition for her role in setting up the Student Mental Health Society which has helped students learn and share knowledge with each and instigate conversations to breakdown the stigma around mental health.
Bhavandeep drew on her own experiences of mental health issues, bullying and the challenges of being a young carer to help improve services for young people by getting involved in local and national research into the issue which is then discussed with health professionals.
She continued: “When I started my A Levels at the Joseph Wright Centre, I was keen to use my previous experience to support other students and help shape mental health and wellbeing support available here.
“As welfare officer for the JWC student council, I got a small group together to set up a Student Mental Health Society and we now have hundreds of members.
“The society has been led by the students for the students because we know each other better than anyone else.
“Mental health and wellbeing is different for every individual over the past two years. Many young people have found it difficult to stay motivated to keep on top of college work and other challenges in life such as extreme loneliness.
“Coming together to celebrate our A Level success has been a very fitting end to a challenging couple of years and I know we are all looking forward to the next stage of our lives.”
