Wheelchair bound with paralysis for six months, signs of kidney failure, trembling, coping with terrible pain.

But none of these were from physical assault – rather, a physical reaction to years of perpetual bullying across her teenage years.

Conversion disorder, translating neurological stress into physical illness, put Ms Cunningham in hospital in 2012, and her health at risk until a psychologist in a Melbourne hospital finally identified what was wrong.

Five years later, Ms Cunningham’s life is full of hope, hard work, and a positive future.

This month, the Angel’s Hope anti-bullying charity founder graduated from the University of Tasmania with her degree in behavioural science in psychology and criminology.

Her experiences have not embittered her: rather, Ms Cunningham’s focus is on helping others, as she herself was helped when she needed it.

“I’ve always had a passion for mental health because of what’s happened to me in the past,” Ms Cunningham said.

“I think having a qualification, a Bachelor degree, would help my understanding even more in terms of knowledge, I understand what impact it can have.”

But she still lives out the reality of having endured such bullying.

“For me it was very challenging, not just in terms of study, but … I had to keep track of my own mental health and since it affects my physical health, I did have a lot of problems with fatigue and tiredness,” she said.

“But I kept going because I knew that in the end it’ll be all over – nothing lasts forever.”

Having completed her degree, Ms Cunningham is not sure what the future holds as she starts looking for a job.

She continues to volunteer with Angel’s Hope, the charity her family created to work against Australia’s youth suicide rate and raise awareness of bullying in schools.

“I did have a plan, but then my life completely changed, and my goals changed, and my health changed,” she said.

“I need to make sure I stay true to who I am.

“At the moment I’m just trying to find who I am as a person, I think as you finish something, who you were at that time changes.”

Having overcome so much, Ms Cunningham said she has no set plans for her future career. “As long as I’m happy, I don’t really care.”