I joined BU during a really challenging time, as due to Covid, my first volleyball season was cancelled and I wasn’t able to play at all. In my second year, I got to experience more of the university environment and gained valuable experience as we had to self-coach that season. My final year was by far my most enjoyable year at BU. Harry Jones did an amazing job not only coaching but also creating a very friendly and professional environment. I learned a lot that year, and I’m so glad I was able to experience it.
I wasn't planning on playing competitively after graduating; however, I decided to join Weymouth’s volleyball club to stay connected with my friends and still play the sport I love. By Christmas, I realized that I still wanted to play in higher-level competitions, and the opportunity to join VC Stroossen came at the right time. I moved to Luxembourg shortly after that, where my team won both Coupe de Luxembourg and the Novotel League.
The entire volleyball and university experience, along with meeting new people and creating relationships, has helped me transition and prepared me to live and play in countries other than my home.
Being away from home in a foreign country definitely has its challenges, but the SportBU team did an amazing job running me through all the things I should know beforehand. Additionally, all the coaches at BU did an amazing job creating a very professional environment for athletes to perform at their best while ensuring that we were feeling good both on and off the court. I’m so grateful for all the support I received at BU and for all the great relationships I established with the staff!
For anyone looking to secure a contract in the future, my advice would be to spend time on your sport CV and highlight tape. There’s no secret formula to securing a contract, but I believe you need to approach the process the same way you’d approach any other type of career. Connecting with agents will increase your chances of finding a team rather than trying to find a team yourself. Making sure that you, as a player, are in good shape when joining a team is also very important.
Thinking ahead to the future, I’m very open to anything that comes my way, as I like evaluating every opportunity. I’m excited about continuing my journey with VC Stroossen, competing more and making more connections.
Want to know more about our sports scholarships?
If you’re a high-performing athlete and on a regional, national or international sports programme, you can apply for one of our sports scholarships – designed to provide you with the funding to take your sporting abilities to the next level. Find out more about our scholarships.
Head to YouTube to hear how four of our sports scholars explain how their sports scholarships help them balance their university studies and their sporting aspirations.
