Kia ora Darren! It’s an exciting time for you navigating your first year of tertiary study – what inspired you to study at Massey?
Massey’s Academy of Sport programme was a major draw for me, which I learnt about during an Open Day. I play football almost daily at a high level and struggled to balance it with my schooling during intermediate and high school. The support offered through the programme has been crucial in helping me manage both my sporting and academic commitments.
My dad was also a significant motivating factor for me to stay close to home in the Manawatū. My goal is to earn a Bachelor of Business, and with his role as a Student Registry Advisor-Student Fees and Compliance at Massey, his experience and mentorship is invaluable for my future career.
Wow – sport and study! How is it going finding the balance between the two?
Bringing the two together has been quite seamless so far, but it can be a juggling act. I commute to Wellington twice a week for football training, which often means returning to Palmerston North late. Adding early morning lectures and futsal training for an upcoming University & Tertiary Sport New Zealand event definitely makes for a busy schedule! Fortunately, the resources from the Academy of Sport have been really helpful in keeping me on track with everything.
You’re studying on campus – how has the campus culture influenced your experience?
When I first enrolled, it was a bit daunting since a lot of my mates were going elsewhere, but the friendly campus culture has really helped. Everyone here is easy to talk to, and the lecturers are approachable and always willing to help. I appreciate that because when it takes me a bit longer to grasp concepts, they’re always happy to answer my questions after lectures. There’s quite a homely type feeling, which made settling in much easier.
Is there a particular course that has stood out as your favourite so far?
Definitely Sport Facility Management from my first semester. It’s the perfect blend of my management degree and my passion for sports. Combining those two areas made the course super engaging, and it aligns with my future career goals. I enjoyed how it all came together. All my lectures have been great because we’re diving into fresh, current information. It makes it much easier to connect theory with real-world practice as the courses evolve with the field.
Speaking of your future career goals, what are they?
My main goal is to find joy in my work by using my degree to make a positive impact and ensure I’m applying what I’ve learned in a valuable way. One of my big ambitions is to boost the football scene in Palmerston North. Currently, many players head to Wellington for football opportunities, so I’d like to combine my degree with my passion for sports to coach younger players. My hope is to inspire them to stay in Palmy and help build a stronger, more vibrant football community here.
