Class of 2024: Samuel Davies

For Samuel Davies, the three years spent studying at Essex have been “the most intense, emotionally challenging and formative” of his life.

During his time here, he has achieved amazing academic success, built his own company which offers tutoring and support to students, and has overcome both anorexia and orthorexia.

It was due to developing these two serious eating disorders that led Samuel to studying at Essex. He initially had an offer to go away to university, but he decided that for his mental health, and for family support, he would stay close to his home on the outskirts of Colchester.

“I was in so much pain and my mental health so poor that it would have been unfeasible for me to leave my home and risk damaging myself even more,” he said. “I contemplated deferring but knew that I would grow bored and ultimately turn on myself again. I needed something to take my mind off the pain and, as I was healing, face me with new challenges. So, I stayed local.”

And after a successful three years of study, he is glad he made the decision.

“I have metamorphosised from an isolated, unconfident and mentally ill teenage boy to a proactive, disciplined, and resilient young man, one who is hungry to make progress and inspire those around them,” he said.

Graduating this summer with a BA Sociology with Applied Quantitative Methods from the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Samuel is proud of his achievements.

While being an undergraduate, he has built his own tutoring business from scratch called Strong Students, which guides GCSE and A Level students to better grades and improved performance, both academically and personally; taught himself to become a website designer and copywriter; been named on the Dean’s list every year; begun the process of training as a nutritionist; and, most significantly, made a full recovery from both orthorexia and anorexia nervosa.

After graduation, Samuel plans to spend the next year growing his tutoring business and advancing his skills as a digital entrepreneur. He has also enrolled on a nutrition course, and by the end of the year will be a fully qualified nutrition adviser.

“Nutrition and health mean everything to me,” he said. “I experienced orthorexia and anorexia nervosa for the best part of three years. I’m now striving to further my education in the domain of human health and incorporate this into my personal brand’s message to help other people make healthier lifestyle choices.”