Dennis Chin, 23, from Sandy in Bedfordshire says the skin condition prevented him from reaching his full potential and ultimately resulted in him suspending his studies after the third year.
Besides the physical pain, he says the eczema had a significant impact on his mental health causing him to have low self-esteem and confidence.
Dennis said: “During my first year at university, I felt too anxious to leave my room or even look and speak to other people. Social situations felt overwhelming and I felt as though I did not belong at university. The stress of exams and deadlines throughout my degree only aggravated the eczema causing significant struggle.
“Having looked back at the photos and videos I took of myself during these struggles, I have a hard time understanding how I made it through. The physical and mental pain in the photos was tangible and the uncertainty on whether I would ever get better felt like staring into an abyss.”
To treat his eczema, doctors tried all sorts of creams and steroids which did not help. Waiting lists for treatment of severe eczema were close to a year and so he had to continue at university without effective treatment wearing gloves and multiple layers of clothes to hide the condition.
The university supported Dennis throughout this time by giving him extensions and being understanding with his condition as his sleep was so badly affected, which had an impact on being able to concentrate and communicate effectively with others.
When he suspended his studies, he began a course of specialist treatment which comprised of immunosuppressant medication which finally helped to clear his skin. This was followed by biological injections which manage the condition.
Returning from a year out of university after third year marked a turning point in Dennis’ life – his skin was significantly better but everyone on his course had already graduated and so he barely knew anyone.
He met with his senior tutor, Dr Robert Hughes from the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering before coming back to university via a video call and together they came up with a plan to ease him back into university life.
Dennis said: “He generously offered to be my personal tutor for the year and supported me throughout with help beyond what I could have ever expected from a personal tutor. He communicated with my professors and helped others understand the impact eczema and my medication side effects were having on my studies which resulted in support that made my final year much more manageable.
“Whilst eczema played a big role in affecting my university experience, I realised that I had also spent three years holding myself back for fear of being judged. Having regretted how I wasted my first three years, I promised myself I would make my fourth year the greatest and leave Bristol with no regrets.
“This was my last chance. I spoke to more people than I did in my first three years combined, made close friends, went to social events I wouldn’t have thought of attending in the past, hit the gym regularly and started to become the best version of myself.”
Over the next year Dennis started talking to more people, asking questions in lectures and attending formal events for the first time. This included, in his last week of university, taking a flight in the University of Bristol balloon, something he always wanted to do before graduation.
He said: “I realised every fear in my head was purely fictitious. It took embracing the fear and taking action such as attending events I didn’t want to for me to realise this and so I started to embrace things that made me uncomfortable. I’ve learnt that overcoming fear is one of the greatest ways to grow and so now rather than avoiding situations that make me uncomfortable I see them as opportunities to grow.
“Whilst I am proud to have completed the Mechanical Engineering course, I am much prouder of the person I have become. Every challenge, emotion and act of courage has shaped me into who I am today, and I can happily graduate with no regrets. I know I’ve survived the worst of it in my first three years, if I can survive that I can do anything.”
Following his graduation ceremony Dennis was presented with a special prize from the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering awarded to final year students who have shown exceptional initiative in engineering endeavours, something Dennis says he is really grateful for.
Dr Robert Hughes said: “It has been one of the highlights of my time as senior tutor to see and support Dennis in completing his degree this year, and to witness the resilience and strength that he has developed and applied to managing his health and wellbeing during his studies.
“It would have been enough for Dennis to simply pass his degree, but in spite of the challenges he's faced, he also excelled, receiving an award to recognise the excellence of his final major project work. He has overcome many interconnected barriers both physical and psychological, requiring a dedication and maturity you don't see every day. I'm very proud to see how far he has come and what an excellent role model he is for others. I know he will excel in whatever he sets his mind to.”