How StrutCamp Transformed My Life

Sep 25, 2017

Life is not easy for any of us. But for teenage girls growing up, the world can be an extremely confusing and painful place. StrutCamp has been designed to help young women to discover their own path and prepare them to walk with confidence.

We interviewed Jade Sullivan, who is currently in her final year of a Business Management Degree at Brighton University, about her experience of StrutCamp to understand how the process works from the perspective of a young woman.

Why StrutCamp?

"My dad knew the founder of StrutCamp, Jamie Edwards, through his performance coaching work, which he believes changed his life. When I turned 18, in my second year of university I started to struggle emotionally. I wasn’t feeling myself and I didn’t feel like socialising anymore. It is hard to put it into words, but I was edgy and cried easily. One little thing could set me off.

I think the reality of being away from my family, working around lectures to support myself and living alone, really hit me. I had plenty of support from friends and family, but the responsibilities of growing up were overwhelming.

My dad could see that I wasn’t coping well and suggested that I go to see Jamie, to help me set my mind straight.

Meeting Jamie

I took a cab from Brighton to Manchester and wasn’t sure what to expect. I cried as soon as I arrived, but Jamie soon made me feel at ease. It was hard to explain what was wrong, or what I needed, to be honest, it was a confusing time.

I wondered if there was something wrong with me because I didn’t have a clue why I was feeling so unhappy. I guess I tried to grow up too quickly and it didn’t work.

I spent the first few hours answering ‘I don’t know’, every time Jamie asked a question. He managed to put words to what was going on in my head. I felt like he understood me better than I did!

The whole process was very helpful and changed my way of thinking. I took a journal and am so glad that I took notes, as I still look back over it today. There was so much to absorb in such a short time, that I sometimes read notes that I don’t even remember taking at the time.

Would You Recommend StrutCamp To Your Peers?

I would absolutely recommend StrutCamp to young women from the age of around 14. It just helps to show that you are not alone in the things you are going through. It puts everything into perspective, so you don’t take things so personally.

Appearance

In my experience, young women from the age of around 14 start to lose confidence in their appearance. They feel unhappy with what they see in the mirror. At this age, our bodies change so fast, and once that low opinion of yourself has found its way into your head, it can be hard to shake. The media certainly doesn’t help either.

Friends

Friendship groups at school are so important but can cause a lot of stress. There can be conflicts and issues escalate with no real reason. Friendship groups can change very quickly and you can find yourself isolated. Self-esteem is fragile, and with peer pressure to look a certain way, plus the added issues with boys, things can get tough.

At this age, I was so into my friends that I didn’t really take any time to get to know myself. This is something that I learned from Jamie. This period of time goes past so fast!

Family

I am so lucky to have had a supportive family around me as I was growing up. But of course, it is easy to take them for granted, when all I wanted was freedom. As I mentioned, I tried to grow up too fast and found that I was lost and miserable. Jamie helped me by giving me the tools to have open honest discussions with my parents. That changed everything.

Emotions

For me, my emotions were pretty plain sailing up to the age of 18. In my second year of university, I suddenly had a lot of time alone and was very aware of all of the responsibilities that I now held. The pressure started to mount and the burden was heavy.

Bottom Line

StrutCamp helped me to take a step back from the confusion of life, and to become aware of what I actually liked and disliked, and where I wanted to go. Once I had that clear in my mind, I could confidently take the next steps towards my goal.

I had forgotten to keep doing the things that made me happy. I was too busy worrying about what I should be doing and what others might think. Now, my own opinion is what matters most to me. And I know that I have to keep a balance in my life.

Jamie helped me to prepare for whatever might come my way. I now have the tools and the skills that I need to be myself and make choices that work for me. Right now, I am focused on completing my degree and I look forward to whatever comes next.