I left school with bad grades after battling a crippling medical condition – now I’m making my career dreams come true

A YOUNG school leaver has told how despite battling self harm, anxiety, severe health conditions and family tragedy, she has managed to transform her life and embark on her dream career.

Olivia Blackburn, 24, revealed how she struggled so much at school she would pull her hair out as a way to cope – and suffered low self esteem because a painful skin condition meant she couldn’t wear normal school uniform and needed special bandages.

Olivia Blackburn/The Prince's Trust

She struggled to speak and eat as she waited for a major jaw surgery – and had to miss chunks of school to go to hospital appointments. 

When her mental health started to worsen, Olivia made the decision to leave school, with no idea what her options were or what her future held. 

Then in 2019, Olivia’s mum Lisamarie was tragically diagnosed with blood cancer – a double blow as she had lost her dad to cancer just three years previously.

But despite these enormous challenges – and thanks to support from the Prince’s Trust, resilient Olivia is now studying to be a nurse – and even works on the same ward her mum is receiving treatment. 

And in honour of her triumph against adversity, the inspirational young woman has been been awarded the Homesense Young Achiever Award in partnership with Fabulous by the charity.

In an exclusive interview with Fabulous, Olivia said: “I never thought I would be in this position, going to university and studying for my dream career. 

“When I think back to my time at school, it was really difficult for me. I had health conditions that weren’t under control, and I was awaiting major surgery on my jaw. I often had to miss classes for medical appointments or because I wasn’t well enough to attend.

“I had a skin condition that meant I had to wear bandages or special clothes that wouldn’t hurt my skin, instead of a uniform. 

“I was told that all the teachers had been informed why I had to wear this but they didn’t and in every class I had to explain myself, which I used to struggle with, it made me feel self conscious.

“People don’t really understand the impact of a skin condition and what it can do to someone. 

“Being so young, your appearance matters, so it affected my self esteem a lot. 

“I also had braces for five years because I needed an operation on my jaw. I have a reverse jaw, so my bottom teeth were overlapping my top quite severely. 

“It made speaking difficult and a lot of people struggled to understand what I was saying. It was hard to eat, it would take ages to eat because my teeth didn’t align.

“On top of all that I got anxiety and depression at school and I had cognitive behavioural therapy. 

It made speaking difficult and a lot of people struggled to understand what I was saying

Olivia Blackburn

“It got to a point where I decided to leave school early to focus on my health, even though I knew I may never be able to go to university or college due to my grades. Although I was upset, I accepted it.

“Then March 2019, my mum fell ill, and this had a huge impact on me and my family, as we had already lost my dad to cancer. Although we are all close and we all support each other, it came as a shock.”

Despite these challenges, Olivia was determined to explore options that would help her to build her confidence and skills.

After seeing an advert for a Prince’s Trust course run in partnership with the NHS and a local college in Dundee, Olivia decided to apply. 

The six-week course offered her the training and work experience she needed to start a career in the NHS.

Olivia flourished on the course and afterwards landed a job as a Healthcare Support Worker in the same Haematology Ward that is treating her mum. 

Olivia is now in the second year of an adult nursing degree at Dundee University – and credits the Prince’s Trust for giving her the support she really needed. 

“As soon as I started the course, I already saw a better future for myself,” she said.

As soon as I started the course, I already saw a better future for myself

Olivia Blackburn

“A future that I didn’t see before, having a career I would be proud of, and one I love.

“To be honest, I didn’t think that I’d get this kind of support from any organisation because I just never had it at school, but between the Prince’s Trust and the NHS, it’s amazing how much support you can get and how much it makes a difference as well. 

“I didn’t like school and the main reason was because I got no support even when they saw I was struggling. 

“But with the Prince’s Trust even though I did the course in 2019, every so often I’ll get a message from them asking how I’m doing and it’s just nice. And you just know that they’re always gonna be there for support and it makes such a difference.”

Olivia says her mental health has also improved now – and she has more confidence than ever. 

“I still have my days where I think I struggle a little bit more, but I just think that’s human,” she said. “It’s nothing to the extreme that it was previously.

“When I was in therapy I was self harming myself by pulling my hair out – it’s called Trichotillomania.

“To this day, I still struggle occasionally with it because it was a coping mechanism, I guess, that helped. But at the same time, it’s a lot better than it was those years ago. 

“And I’m so much more confident than I used to be.

“Even if a young person wasn’t sure if they’d be eligible for one of their courses, I would still convince them to get in touch because they are really helpful and if they don’t have a course right for you they can direct you somewhere else.”

“I’d definitely encourage other young people in similar circumstances to try the Prince’s Trust.”I’d tell them there is support after school, especially because I never thought that there would be.

Olivia will attend the Prince’s Trust’s star-packed award ceremony in London on May 24th, accompanied by her proud mum.

And her ambition now is to qualify as a nurse and return to the same ward she started on. 

“My dream is to finish university and get a nursing job back at the haematology ward,” Olivia said.

” As soon as I started working there, I knew it was where I wanted to be, it is such a specialised unit, an amazing team and I learn something every day.

“I’m really excited to be doing my nursing studies and I have so many forms of support around me. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for the Prince’s Trust.”

Olivia Blackburn/The Prince's Trust