2012
"Up until two years ago, I hadn’t done anything which really sparked my interest and that I really enjoyed, instead I'd been doing things I thought were ‘the right thing to do’. I realised after working for a year selling financial products at a building society that it wasn’t really what I wanted to do with my life.
"I thought very carefully about my interests, and with plenty of encouragement from my partner and parents, I finally decided to pack in the job and apply for university. I chose to study at Southampton Solent University mainly because I live locally and it meant that I could continue to live at home and see my family and partner. Also, I was really won over when I visited the campus. The staff were enthusiastic and approachable and the facilities were very good.
"Coming to university gave me the chance to study something that I am passionate about and the opportunity to carve out the beginnings of a career in this field. I really enjoy being able to work in research and with external clients, using the on site sports laboratories and this looks great on my CV!
"I've been given the opportunity to work with world class athletes as part of my course, giving me the chance to apply what I have learned in lectures and through further reading. This year, we have worked with an 'Ironman Triathlete' and with a Paralympics wheelchair basketball player who represented Great Britain in Beijing. I'm not aware of any other sport science course in the country that offers the opportunity to work with such athletes at undergraduate level!
"The course is very hands on, as its name would suggest. Pretty much everything you read about or hear about in lectures you will have the opportunity to try out and learn how it works in an applied situation. Most interesting on the practical side has been performing maximal testing - it's been fascinating to see how far people are able to push their limits. Things such as VO2 max testing require a great deal of knowledge and competency, and it's extremely rewarding when they go well.
"Some of the best moments this year have been aiding with the ongoing research undertaken by staff in the labs, designing my own research proposal and presenting it at the BASES student conference and working with a range of athletes from various sports and with differing levels of skill.
"I've been able to use the knowledge gained on my course and apply it to real life situations, enabling me to build the necessary skills to help me progress on my career path. I've also been busy making the most of the numerous opportunities that arise at Southampton Solent University to help build my CV and make myself more employable.
"After I graduate I hope to continue my studies and complete a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology. I am interested in education and would enjoy lecturing Physiology at university and leading active research in this area."