Jade Jackson-Byrne

A Supportive and Inclusive Environment

Jade found University Centre South Essex to be a place where she could truly thrive. She particularly valued the smaller class sizes and inclusive learning environment:

“As a neurodivergent student, having smaller groups was really beneficial for me. I felt very supported and I feel like this has set me up for such an amazing career ahead.”

Jade explained that her decision to progress onto a degree at University Centre South Essex was an easy one:

“The choice to progress to a degree here was based on the incredible support I received while studying my Level 2 and Level 3 courses. Knowing that support would continue throughout my transition to degree level study, it just felt right and comfortable to progress.”

She also highlighted how important the environment was in helping her take the next step:

“I felt supported as a single person, as a single mother and as a mature student to take on this challenge, being local was important too.”

Overcoming Challenges

During her first year, Jade received a diagnosis of dyslexia, something that became a turning point in her academic journey:

“In my first year I received a diagnosis of dyslexia. Getting the support to get diagnosed was such a game changer. The support throughout enabled me to get a dyslexic tutor, get more support and just embrace a different way of learning.”

With the right support in place, Jade gained confidence and embraced her identity:

“It allowed me to feel brave enough to expose my disability, which was hidden, but now I feel like it is part of my superpower.”

A Moment of Pride

Completing her degree is an achievement Jade once felt was out of reach:

“I was a person who never believed that I’d even have a degree. I really believed in my younger self that there was a stereotype and I felt I fell into that stereotype. But I took on the challenge. I came from a deprived area. I believed in myself. So just completing the degree feels absolutely amazing.”

Looking Ahead

Jade is already taking the next step in her career. She is the founder of ‘Inner Courage’, a counselling and wellbeing service, which she hopes to officially launch in October 2026. Her ambitions include expanding the service to offer workshops and listening support.

‘Inner Courage’ didn’t emerge from a simple desire for entrepreneurship; it grew from what she describes as "the ashes of merging with her Jungian shadow." For Jade, the degree was more than a qualification, it was a period of intense self-discovery. Coming from a blended family and navigating the world as a neurodivergent individual, she rarely felt she fitted into a "solid, concrete narrative”.