I'm just like the rest of you..

I fit in

Ive made friends and hopefully these ones stay around..

They all know about the stroke, and they all accept it.

I'm confident

More independent 

Happier

Busy and enjoying being just how people wanted me to be..

Normal.

This version of normal that people moan about;

Getting up early, working, learning, walking, being tired...

I know that this time it'll be much more interesting because of how I am.

'Normal' 

'So what have you been doing for the past year and why have you chosen this course and what's your name'

I thought about it after the first few people nervously spoke aloud..

Turned to my learning support lady, who is the best person I've met.. And I thought I'd hate them

Who wants someone following you around?..

'Do you think I should say this, I mean does it sound okay or normal??'

' my names Elizabeth ashmore, I was half way through year 1 till I suffered a major stroke and was determined to finish my course'

' yeah that's fine!'

So as my turn came up I said it...

The guy next to me stopped me after and looked at me, 

'I thought I recognised you! You were in the newspaper weren't you!'

'Oh god, yes I was'...

I walk to uni feeling confident, I even got barged into the other day 

'Sorry!!'

'Oh no it was my fault I'm sorry!'

I smiled and felt so happy..

They kind of understand or are at least accepting me for who I am.

My class is huge, full of a higher majority or guys but girls are slowly showing up..

One girl has bright blue hair, the rest have tattoos..

My tutor is so supportive,

He's sat with me after every day and answered my questions..

'Sorry Hugh I'm probably really annoying haha'

'Oh don't be silly! We all know you'll need help!'

I love just getting up knowing I'm going to be busy with something other than looking at the same four walls,

You always get nervous before you start and you overthink..

As I did and you might of read in the last blog post,

'Mum I don't think I'm ready'

But I am..

There's so much support its unreal, my lsa even gets the lift with me..

We did a group project and I took over my group..

'What are you most worried about uni (your concerns )'

'My group has said'...

' learning English as some are international students..

'Now what are you excited for..'

' a guy in my group kept saying 'fuck yeah' after every idea he came up with and as I like winding people up I kept saying it after every quote I thought of..

He laughed 'you're funny I like you!'

'So what did your group think of..'

' well my group weirdly said we're excited for idealistic arguements!' I stopped and the tutor looked confused..

(Should I say what I'm really thinking or will I get in trouble)..

'You know when you come up with a shit idea and someone else disagrees with you and you debate in the group'

Everyone laughed with me instead of at me.

We enroll on Friday and get our summer project grade today, I'm so nervous that I couldn't sleep..

I'll receive my timetable soon for the next term.

And for the first time I'm excited, even more so than when I took my first steps..

You appreciate something a lot more when you get a second chance and start..

Even if you don't experience loosing the ability of doing something, make the most of it even if the weird version of 'normal' you've created is boring, tiring, hardwork.

You never know it could be taken away at any point.

Wake up

Get ready

Work hard..