“University has been one of the best things to ever happen to me”

Criminology student Issy Hart is a published author and disability advocate, who shares how uni has helped her thrive

16 December 2024

Issy Hart explains that her childhood home in the Cotswolds is ‘about as far away from the sea as you can get’ – and she always felt she had a calling to come to the South West.

For many who thought her cerebral palsy would stop her from leaving home, the move came as something of a shock but, as she explains, her disability doesn’t limit her in the slightest.

I needed to move to Plymouth to create the life I wanted for myself. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and I wanted to move away and do things on my own.

At school, I wasn’t academic, and uni had never even crossed my mind until I saw it on a video in about year nine. After exams and Covid, I went to college. But I had a fascination with true crime, wondering why people did what they did.

When considering uni, there was nowhere else I wanted to go, and I was so pleased to get onto Criminology at Plymouth.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing since she arrived. Hoping to socialise in her new city, Issy’s flatmates weren’t really into going out, so she spent time on her own to begin with. Then, when out walking one day, she was victim of a disability hate crime.

Two teenage girls were mimicking the way I walked and when I confronted them about it, they became abusive. It really knocked my confidence, and the police and my lecturers were extremely supportive at a time when I honestly felt like quitting.

I’m quite a spiritual person and over time, I’ve realised it’s not always my job to confront other people’s ignorance.

I believe that that crime needed to happen to make me the person I am today. I still go back to the place where it happened and know I would now walk away and not care.

She set up her Instagram profile @xcpizzx to share her experiences and challenge perceptions, including highlighting the book she wrote just before she moved to Plymouth, Cerebral Palsy and Me.

“Writing my book has been one of my biggest achievements to this day. I’m also embracing my disability.

“Some people assume I must be finding things hard because I have a disability, but I’m a lot happier than most people think.

“I’ve come to love myself and my uniqueness and I’m just as worthy as everyone else. I’m not inspirational just for living my life.”

Issy Hart book Cerebral Palsy and me

Now in her second year of study, she has thrown herself into university life, climbing for the first time with the Students’ Union Adventure and Expo Society during Welcome Week, enjoying the variety of modules on her course, and going out regularly with her four housemates.

In the future, she wants to travel and is starting with a six-week trip to the east coast of Australia in summer 2025.

University has been one of the best things to ever happen to me.

My first week of second year was more fun than my first week of Freshers’, and this semester has been all about pushing myself to do things.

When you get to uni, don’t worry if you don’t do everything you want straight away, there’s time. If you have a disability, don’t let it hold you back.

Obviously uni might not be for everyone, but people made out it would be really hard for me, and it’s not.

Remember your dreams are never too big or too wild.

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