"I was told I was a hopeless case" Preston student defies odds with graduation

Jack celebrating his achievements at home during the pandemic.

Now, the 20 year old student, from Kirkham, can take pride in his achievements, graduating with an upper second class degree in Journalism.

"When I was younger a teacher told my mum that I wouldn’t speak properly because of my stammer, and that I was a hopeless case," said Jack, a student at UCLAN.

"It's a day I never thought possible but I’ve done it and proved many people wrong along the way. For the teachers who didn’t let me read out in class and for the teachers who rolled their eyes as I spoke to them.

"I’ve never let people get me down and drag me to their level. I’ve worked hard for every single thing I have ever had."

Jack refused to let his speech impediment hold him back, fronting the 'Be Kind' campaign with Stamma.org and featuring on Radio 1's popular 'Life Hacks' podcast to talk about living with a stammer.

The invisible disability, that means he battles with a stutter when he speaks, was noticed by teachers at Wesham Primary School when he was four years old.

Jack recalls staff and children being unable to understand him at pre school before attending speech therapy classes.

Jack completed a work placement at Newsround.

"My mum did take me to the doctors but they didn’t think it was a problem, so I later had speech therapy at 16 years old," he said.

"So basically, the pre school deemed me as a hopeless case because my speech defined me. But I have now competed a practice based course which requires a lot of speech."

In the UK, it's thought around two in three children who stammer will eventually grow out of it, although according to the NHS, it's difficult to predict when this will happen.

It's estimated that stammering affects one in 100 adults, with men being around three to four times more likely to stammer than women.

From one big victory to another, Jack now plans to continue his studies by completing a Masters degree in television production.

"The degree has taken me to work freelance at BBC Newsround, my all time dream to work within children’s TV. I’ve worked freelance at Blog Preston, gone down to London for work experience at Loose Women, and a night at Newsnight," he said.

"I’ve had the best time, and this is only the beginning."