Robert’s story

Robert did a Grit programme during his foundation year at Canterbury Christ Church University.

First time around, college had not been a happy experience for Robert. It had knocked his confidence and the memory was still ‘pulling me down,’ hanging over his head. He had been very nervous about starting at Canterbury Christ Church and Grit seemed like a positive opportunity, even though he didn’t know quite what to expect.

The workshop felt like a very safe and supportive space and people shared all kinds of personal stuff. Robert shared. There were things he had really been needing to talk about, really needed to express out loud. Actually, it turned out that of lot of the other students were struggling with similar things, that they had a lot more in common than they thought. And Robert began to feel more connected.

Sharing helped him deal with things, to develop, to grow. It gave him a real boost, a real shot of confidence that he still feels some two years later. He felt more at home at university, became much more sociable. He still sees many of the other students from the workshop.

He’s been a lot happier and a lot healthier: ‘I’m sleeping a lot better.’ Robert has come to terms with a lot of the things that were undermining him. Grit helped him move on. He’s put that unhappy first college experience well behind him.

He is more positive, focused on future not the past. ‘Grit has changed way I look at world.’  And when everything changed with Covid, when life went into lockdown and lectures went online, Robert felt much better able to get on with his course, much better able to navigate a positive way through. Much to his surprise he found himself enjoying virtual interactions!

Grit, he says, has helped him get to grips with his studies and make the most of the opportunity.  His grades have improved over the last year or so. He is focusing on getting all his assignments done, done in time, and done to the highest possible standard. He’s not just going through the motions.

Grit gave him the confidence and motivation to get a summer job with a Health Care agency at the end of his Foundation Year. It spurred him on, helped him see the possibility. Now he feels well on the way to starting a career when he leaves university.

And, when the chance came, he leapt at the opportunity to help Grit pilot and test its new online workshop. ‘I really wanted to give something back,’ he says. ‘I’m really grateful to Grit for everything it has done for me.’