When I first moved from Germany to Aberdeen, it felt impossible to navigate living alone in a new country, making friends, and studying at university with ADHD. However, with time and my best friend by my side, everything started to fall into place. I tried new things, like joining the Archery Society and making new friends at university, and the people in my accommodation went from strangers to a little family.
There were many moments when I felt like I had made the wrong decision and that university was not for me. However, my passion for psychology remained strong, and I attended every lecture, eager to learn more. I feel very grateful and honoured to have won the Anderson Prize from the School of Psychology. While it came as a surprise, it proved to me that I had made the right decision after all.
My personal experiences with Aphantasia sparked my interest in psychology, as not much is known about the absence of mental imagery, which is still the case today. Then, after my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I knew I had to study psychology. She deserved better treatment or a cure, and her struggle motivated me deeply. When she passed away during my second semester, I struggled to continue my routine but used her memory to remind myself why I came here in the first place.
I look forward to learning more about the human mind in the following years and am eager to conduct my own research one day. While I have developed an interest in criminology, I am still drawn to understanding Alzheimer's and Aphantasia, as these are what initially drew me to psychology.
Sofia is studying a BSc in Psychology.
