‘Being in the nunnery was a total culture shock!’

Sarah Lawrence, 19, from Surrey, says, “Before the nunnery, I’d dress up every night for my job as a hostess in London’s top clubs. Usually, I’d be more drunk than my guests. I’d regularly drink a bottle of wine, shots and Champagne each night, and then fall over or do something embarrassing. I’d spend the next day sleeping off a hangover. I’d also think nothing of spending up to £10,000 a year on skimpy outfits and make-up to maintain my glamorous image.

“When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer, but my college attendance was low because I spent all my time partying. My parents, Steve and Christine, have always been supportive, but they worried about how much I was drinking.

“The nunnery was a total culture shock and it was hard to adjust to silent prayers and meditation. The hardest thing was waking up at the time I’d usually get in! But the sisters never judged. I could talk to them about anything and they actually helped me realise how unhappy I’d been with my life.

“By the second week, I stopped wearing make-up and started covering up more. I became determined to make a change. The sisters have so much positive energy and I learned that I can be sensitive and understanding rather than just a loud party girl.

“When I left the convent, I wanted to move away from my old life and stop hostessing. I found a 9-to-5 job as a PA and moved out of my parents’ house. I now drink less and I feel much happier and healthier. My relationship with my parents and my older sister, Jess, is so much better now I’ve calmed down, too. I feel much more settled and I rarely go out now. The nuns have given me a fresh perspective on life and I couldn’t be happier.”