Graduation Tales | Determined Dan follows mum into academia

Dan Richardson, from Pontprennau, struggled through school but was determined to give education another shot. Now, he has graduated from University of South Wales (USW) with BA (Hons) Counselling and Therapeutic Practice.

Diagnosed with Dyslexia at a young age, and ADHD later, Dan found the structure of school difficult. He said: “It wasn’t just the reading and writing that was hard for me. It was also the expectation to stay in a room, sit for long periods of time, day after day, year after year.

“I really struggled to learn. I was considered naughty, but looking back now, I know I was bored.”

Though Dan was supported in school with his dyslexia, he doesn’t feel like he reached his full potential.

“The support was beneficial, but it didn’t help me to progress. It just enabled me to get the bare minimum, so I wasn’t happy with the qualifications that I left school with.”

Determined to continue his studies, he went to college where he discovered his interest in counselling. He said: “Out of my friends, I am probably one of the more sensitive in the group. My friends can talk to me about their problems. But counselling wasn’t something I had considered for a career. I didn’t know this was something I could do at uni.

“Counselling is incredibly rewarding. When you review a client’s progress and see how far they have come, and know that you helped them, it’s very fulfilling.”

Now Dan is following his dream to become a Doctor of Psychology.

“I am very grateful for the support I have had from USW’s Student Services, who have helped me to understand how my dyslexia and ADHD interact, which has allowed me to express myself academically. I have finally been able to show the best version of myself. There will always be flaws in my spelling, for example, but that doesn’t take away from the content that I am writing about.

“I have learnt a lot about myself and how I operate.

“My mum has a doctorate and I never thought I could follow in her footsteps. I see how much satisfaction she gets from her research and how it makes a difference. I have a place on the MSc Psychology course and after that, I want to do a PhD.”

Dan plans to research PTSD in Firefighters and see how different types of counselling could help them.

“The emergency services in general are of interest to me. With my mum working in the health sector, they are incredibly close to my heart. I have spoken to Firefighters who have told me that mental illness is a big problem in the industry, which is understandable when you think of the things that they witness. I want to draw attention to this and investigate it further,” Dan said.

Looking back to his school days, Dan can’t believe he has crossed the stage in his cap and gown.

“Even the thought of graduation is quite surreal, to be honest,” he said.

“It was emotional because I never have thought it possible to go from the misunderstood ‘naughty’ little boy to planning my doctoral research.”