Katie Black - BSc (Hons) Sports Development

What was your background before coming to university?

Normal school years; GCSEs then A Levels where I was president of the sixth form. Lots of competitive sailing nationally in little dinghy boats, travelling all over the country and even out of the country a few times. Rugby was a big thing for me competing at county level until the dodgy knee finally gave in!

What made you come to the University of Portsmouth to study?

The prospectus!! It was the only one in my careers library that looked ‘cool’! I thought if they’ve got a wicked book explaining the University then the University itself must be the same... and I have definately not been proven wrong! Portsmouth as a city is lovely, on the open day I remember thinking how ‘clean’ it was and being by the sea just made it that extra bit special.

What do you enjoy most about university life?

I love being independent. It's great being in total control of what I do and what I don’t do. You can get as much or as little as you want from uni, I’m grasping every opportunity I’m given and it’s definately made my experience here so far 10 times better!

What do you enjoy most about your course?

I like the variety, the course has got many different subjects within it so I have learnt such a range of skills and information. It also means it keeps me interested as it offers something different every semester.

What are you hoping to do after your degree?

I’ve always wanted to be a PE teacher and I think I will probably go on to get a PGCE to enable me to do this but I also know there are many other jobs available within the Sports Development subject if I change my mind.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?

Come! It’s so well structured and everyone is looked after! There are so many great things you can do and be part of – I'd say it’s really worth coming to look around. I believe that you have a ‘feeling’ when you come across the university that is right for you and if it’s this one I can truly say you’ll enjoy every minute of it!

Simon Hawes - BSc (Hons) Sports Development

What was your background before coming to university?

I’ve done a bit of everything, from being an auxiliary nurse in hospital and answering calls for NHS Direct to working in Stansted Airport as a concierge for business class travellers to New York, I even trained as a driving instructor!

What made you come to the University of Portsmouth to study?

I’d done a few different jobs since leaving school but never really found anything I particularly enjoyed. I’ve always loved sport and thought that studying it would be enjoyable and would open up a new career path for me in an area that I’d enjoy working in.

What do you enjoy most about university life?

The people you meet and the opportunities on offer are the best things for me. No matter what hobbies or sports you’re in to or what your skill level is, there’s a chance to participate with like-minded people and it’s all really cheap! It’s also a great chance to do things like gaining coaching qualifications for free.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

The course is structured so that the whole time you’re studying you can build up a wide range of experience. For example, we spend quite a lot of time out coaching and organising events in the local community which all adds to your CV and is really rewarding at the same time.

What are you hoping to do after your degree?

I’d like to be involved in coaching, hopefully with some of the athletes who will be competing in London 2012. I’m currently coaching part time in the community for Portsmouth FC which is something I really enjoy too. Failing that I think I’ll probably become a Sports Development Officer!

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?

You need to make sure you study something that interests you, otherwise it can be hard to motivate yourself to do the work and ultimately you don’t want a career in something that bores you! I’d definitely recommend it though because the opportunities that being a student offers you are second to none. Going to university is the best decision I ever made!

Ashleigh Emma Watson - BSc (Hons) Sports Development

What was your background before coming to university?

I stayed on at secondary school and completed my A Levels at sixth form where I studied: Physical Education, Biology, Psychology and gained a Higher Sports Leader Award. Once I had finished sixth form I had all the intentions of going straight to university; however my situation changed as I managed to secure a full-time job at my local leisure centre. Once at the centre I gained my National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, ASA Swimming Teacher Qualification and various other sports and fitness-related qualifications. This gap year in the industry confirmed my decision to study a sport-based degree, whilst allowing me to gain valuable life experience outside of education.

What made you come to the University of Portsmouth to study?

I can remember coming to visit Portsmouth on the preview day, it was possibly the hottest day of the year and I was not looking forward to wandering round a “city” all day in the heat having just come from home by the seaside. Frankly, I was blown away when I arrived, Portsmouth had such a nice, clean, modern atmosphere not dull and dreary like I imagined. The walk from Gunwharf Quays, where we parked, to the Student Union was fantastic and with the Spinnaker Tower in the background it didn’t feel like a city at all. Things just got better and better, the parks, the beach and the sports facilities all within walking distance was just ideal and the people were so accommodating. The icing on the cake was visiting the Sport and Exercise Science Department; the state-of-the-art modern buildings were amazing. I was so impressed I had made my mind up instantly; “Pompey here I come!”

What do you enjoy most about university life?

The university experience itself is what I enjoy the most; the feeling of belonging to the same uni brings everyone closer together. Just meeting tons of amazing, like-minded people all in exactly the same situation as you: being away from home for the first time, worrying about deadlines, their lack of funds and missing family. These individuals who were once complete strangers become your second family, you cannot imagine what life would be like if you decided not to come to uni and you didn’t meet these people. It is crazy but so true.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

I honestly cannot rate my Sports Development course highly enough, for me it is ideal as I love sport in general and find the broad subject matter so interesting. Sports Development is perfect as it covers many units allowing students to sample a whole host of topics, with the option of specialising in their preferred areas in year two. The subject staff are superb; they are always approachable and never more than an email or phone call away. They do their upmost to help and make life easier for their students, I cannot fault them.

What are you hoping to do after your degree?

I often wonder the answer to that question myself, especially after only a year and a bit of university gone and two to go. However, I am currently looking into the prospect of studying for a PGCE after graduation with the aim of becoming a Secondary PE teacher. Obviously all that can change, but all I hope is that I can make a difference to people’s lives through sport in the future.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is such a great university situated in a perfect location, there is so much to see and do entertainment-wise with a superb student nightlife at The Union, Tiger Tiger and Babylon. Not everything has to revolve around drinking, summer beach BBQs, big Sports Days on Southsea Common and dinner at Pizza Hut are equally enjoyable minus the hangover in your 9 o’clock lecture the next day. Portsmouth has everything you need without the hustle and bustle of bigger cities, transport links are good, the locals are accommodating and all Uni buildings are easily accessible on foot or by bike with cycle lanes and bike racks galore. For me Portsmouth is perfect, the best decision I ever made was to come here and I do not regret a thing.

Cynthia (Yijing) Wang - BSc (Hons) Sports Management with English

What was your background before coming to university?

I was studying at Shanghai International Studies University for three years in Global Trade and Business and I did some part-time jobs in China before I came to Portsmouth for the final year of the course.

What made you come to the University of Portsmouth to study?

The opportunity to study the subject is the main reason and what’s more I like to be by sea. Since Beijing had already hosted a very successful Olympic Games, I think what I learn now at Portsmouth can help my future career.

What do you enjoy most about university life?

I think the range of different activities. I have met new friends and have different lifestyle to my homeland. All the experiences I go through here in Portsmouth will be a part of my best memories in the future.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

The course is both challenging and interesting, which I enjoy. Everything I learn now is totally fresh, although at the beginning I thought it may be a little bit hard, but I believe if I just take care it will be achievable. I will also have fun and learn more.

What are you hoping to do after your degree?

I think maybe I will take postgraduate course or find a job relevant with sports.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to University of Portsmouth?

Come here and enjoy the life in university. You will get a wonderful experience.