A conversation with Widad-Christy

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I grew up in Ontario, Canada, and have an academic background in Applied Biotechnology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a certification in Applied Holistic Nutrition. I am also CELTA certified to teach English as a second language.

I have always had a passion for understanding concepts in the science field and how scientific fact can help me to better understand myself. I was born with a rare illness, and through my academic journey, I was able to gain more insight and knowledge around some of the factors that may influence my health and well-being.

What drew me to King's College London's Applied Neuroscience programme was how it focuses on specific aspects of neuroscience This has helped me foster my love for understanding cognition, psychology, and illness.

I was interested in studying remotely and decided to pursue this programme which has optimised my learning experience by accommodating my needs.

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The pandemic was a challenging time for most. Academia in North America began offering online courses across a variety of programmes. At this point, I noticed a complete shift in how I could learn and what I could process. Being able to refer back to content, avoid absence due to health setbacks, and access content without distractions were key to a successful academic journey. Before this shift, I didn't believe I could have gone back to school after a long break, because studying in person might have impeded my success.

In earlier years, I also didn't feel worthy enough to study at a higher level. Still, with a growing sense of support from my community, family, and practitioners, and with remote learning making learning more accessible, I started to see a shift. Academia became a possibility for me, and I wanted to continue to pursue teaching at the post-secondary level.

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The process of earning a credential at this stage has reinforced the idea that resilience is an adaptive, acquired trait and that the sky's the limit for the potential outcomes you can achieve in life. Learning has always been a fascination of mine, and now that programmes are moving online, this offers hope for those seeking a better, more accessible education.

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I selected this programme primarily for its remote format, and then for its focus on applied neuroscience. This further helped me understand myself and satisfied my curiosity about why we do what we do and how we do it. This programme complements and builds on the knowledge I've gained from my previous courses and aligns well with the domain I'm interested in teaching in the future.

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There have been many ways in which King’s has supported me. I received support with writing skills using their Writing Skills Lab and access to content at all times allowed me to approach learning when worked best for me. Meetings with Tutor Fellows and Academic Advisors have also been beneficial in helping to accommodate certain needs. Career suggestions and speaking with Academic Course Administrators about potential future directions has also helped me gain confidence in the path I want to pursue.

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I have many ideas and plans for what I want to pursue further in my education. I hope to continue in a doctoral programme that builds on the knowledge I've gained across a variety of disciplines. I'm extremely inquisitive by nature. I would love to gain experience working with psychometric assessment tools and procedures to help those with chronic illnesses and learning adversities. Lastly, I would also love to be part of a teaching community that reinforces post-secondary education in a remote setting so we can provide access to education for anyone, anywhere.

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Allow yourself to climb and stumble on the mountain of learning. You will get through it, and it may seem super challenging at times, but that's proof that you’re truly growing.

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Widad-Christy's experience highlights the transformative power of accessible education. Her story shows that with the right support and a flexible learning environment, students can overcome personal and academic hurdles to achieve their goals.

If her journey has inspired you, you can learn more about the online Applied Neuroscience MSc programme today.

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