Sensitive content: discussion of suicidal feelings
Growing up in a small Cotswolds town, Alex never saw himself as academic. Diagnosed with dyslexia at age eight, school was a constant struggle.
“I was never a standout in primary school. I didn’t know my times tables. English and maths were always a challenge. School really isn’t set up for neurodivergent people, but I managed to get into grammar school by the skin of my teeth when I was eleven, literally because somebody else dropped out. Teachers told me, ‘You’d never do anything academically - just stick to rugby.”
And that’s what he did. Rugby became his outlet and identity. He played the school team, he excelled and joined the Gloucester Academy and played at county level.
But this all changed with a serious leg injury when he was fifteen. A year of being in a wheelchair, hospital stays, surgery, and physiotherapy followedcoinciding with challenges at home, as his parents split up.
“I lost the one thing that gave me confidence overnight. And with my mum unwell and my parents separated, I had to grow up fast.”
Coming from a very successful family and being an only child put a lot of pressure on Alex to do something with his life. He worked hard on his recovery and tried getting back a year later, but further concussions followed, and he was effectively released from the academy. This was devastating for him. He felt lost and directionless.
“These were dark days. It’s difficult to say, but I was close to ending my life. I walked out of the house around midnight and sat on a railway bridge. And it was the lowest I’ve ever been.”
Despite these turbulent years through sixth form and a near loss of his mum to a brain injury, Alex found a real passion and interest in psychology-a subject introduced to him by a friend he’d met during physiotherapy. It sparked his curiosity, leading him to change A-levels and eventually apply to Bournemouth University.
“When I came to Uni I was quite insecure, lacking confidence. I was still lacking direction and mission in my life. I battled mental health struggles.
But BU - and SUBU - gave me the space to find out who I really was. It has been honestly life changing for me.”
At BU, Alex threw himself into student life. He joined the rugby team, became a Student Rep, founded the Psychology Society, and eventually took on roles as a Part-Time Officer and Student Trustee. He even presented research at Parliament at the age of only nineteen.
“Being thrown into meetings with Vice-Chancellors and MPs felt surreal-but it taught me how to speak up and step forward. I found my voice.”
Under his leadership, the Psychology Society were first to achieve 5 star status this year and became the first ever academic society nominated for Society of the Year. He’s also worked on student safety, wellbeing, timetabling changes and representing students at highest level. With every new challenge that he took on – both academic and extracurricular, he reflected on ways to improve.
“I’ve really taken my learnings forward into my final year. From my first essay where I got 50, I’ve been getting first, back-to-back this year. With all the roles and experiences that I have taken on, I’m coming out a different person.”
What has been a full circle moment for Alex has been his toxic masculinity research - an interest that sparkled through his years of playing rugby and he explored further throughout his degree, leading to a fully funded PhD offer at BU. This journey-from nearly being written off to winning scholarships and shaping policy-proves just how far his compassion, resilience, and opportunity have taken him.
“From being told that rugby is my only option and I’m never going to do anything academically to being on a PhD programme, I couldn’t have done it without BU and without SUBU.”
But alongside the achievements was sacrifice.
“I’ve done incredible things, but I’ve felt lonely too. Building deep friendships was hard - I think I traded some of the social experience for the impact I wanted to make.”
Despite coming from a professional family, Alex has supported himself entirely throughout university, balancing paid and unpaid opportunities to fund his studies.
“People assume you can only get these experiences if you have money. But there are many paid roles at BU and SUBU that can help make the most of what’s offered. I genuinely believe that no matter your background, at university you are your own person, at university, you can do anything!”
He credits SUBU for being an important part of his story.
“SUBU means opportunity. It offers anyone, no matter what background, race, colour, creed, religion, no matter who you are, what you’ve done, it gives you an opportunity to thrive. You can do something meaningful here. It’s not just a Students’ Union - it’s where you can find purpose.”
You can also find the full 2024/25 Impact Report here.