‘Tilly’s first thoughts are not pity for herself’
TILLY Griffiths has been defying expectations her whole life.
Tilly, of Cheddleton, has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition weakening her muscles, but has not let that stop her achieving her dreams.
This summer, she gained the A-levels she needed to attend university. But not just any university, the prestigious Stanford University in America, regularly ranked one of the top three universities in the world.
She has now been nominated for Bright Star of the Year in the Moorlands Heroes Awards.
Tilly, who studied at Stokeon-trent Sixth Form College, achieved an A* in French and As in English language, English literature and an extended project.
She said: “I did the extended project on political commentary. I was looking at the influence of social media on the US election and last year’s general election here. I found fake news played a part as well.”
And she is adjusting well to life in California, more than 5,000 miles from home, despite her complex health needs and requiring 24/7 support – provided through an NHS Personal Health Budget (PHB) that is costing no more than if Tilly studied in the UK.
She said: “I’m just now starting to settle into a routine of balancing classwork with all the other amazing things taking place across campus.”
Tilly was born with the condition spinal muscular atrophy
“I now have a great team of personal assistants supporting me round the clock and so everything really is better than I could ever have dreamt.”
She has been nominated for an award by Rowena Boddington, director of advising and marketing at the US-UK Fulbright Commission who award scholarships across the Atlantic.
Rowena said: “For most young people, leaving home to go university is scary, let alone moving to the other side of the world to study.
“To have the courage to apply to university in another country with the physical disabilities Tilly has is nothing short of courageous.
“Applying to a US university, and particularly such a selective university like Stanford, is a dream most young people in the UK don’t follow through on, but Tilly has pursued this dream with single-minded gusto, not letting any challenge along the way stop her wheels from turning on her path.
“Every step of the way she’s faced more challenges than other students on the same path, and each time she’s been resilient enough to overcome them.
“Tilly is dependent on people around her for even the smallest or most basic task, and has relied on her family and close support networks to keep her alive for the last 18 years.
“With her move to California, she has quite literally put her life in the hands of strangers, far away from the support of home.
“If that’s not brave, I don’t know what is!
“However, Tilly’s first thoughts are not for pity for herself and all the things she can’t do; instead she is always focused on how she can share talents and positive energy and good fortune with other people in more need than she is.
“Her fundraising to date has been incredible, but as she starts this new chapter in her life she is using the opportunities she’s been given to think how she can pay it forward, as she’s planning on setting up a charity while she studies to support sick children.
“Tilly is an inspiring model for us all; working closely with her over the last year I’ve been struck by her wit, her passion and her calm resilience.
“Tilly reminds us all that if we want something, no matter how impossible it seems, we can chase our dreams. I can’t wait to see what her next adventure is.”