ROAD TO GREATNESS

I love football. I’ve been playing it since I was 7. I used to see the people that run on the pitch to help the players when they got injured and think they don’t get enough praise. I want to be a Physiotherapist one day. I learnt the hard way how important it is to listen to the professionals. I had an injury and I didn’t rest it for long enough – I returned to football to soon and made it worse. Growing up in Guyana, I’m grateful for how many opportunities I have here. That’s why I have high expectations for myself. I want to show my family what you can achieve if you work hard – that is my daily motivation.

I was always very hard-working at school – the one that got their work done first and was involved in all sorts of clubs and activities. However, when it came to exams, I struggled with anxiety, so at college I went down the BTEC route. I’m passionate about fitness and I’m proud to have my own coaching business which focuses on making the gym a better place for everyone, no matter their ability. I owe a lot to my gym community, particularly my coach, who has always been in my corner cheering me on. I’ve learned that all you have to do is believe in yourself and you can achieve anything!

I’m a final year Sports Management student from Syria. Moving to another country is a big step, but I was excited by the welcoming environment and sense of inclusivity I found at UA92, plus the Manchester sports scene. Back home, not many people know what sports management is, but my family pushed me to do something that I love, so I took a risk, and that’s something I’m proud of. Since starting at UA92, I’ve become a better version of myself. The people I have met have opened my mind and introduced me to new ideas.

I really struggled with my A-levels. I didn’t do exams in high school due to Covid so when it came to my exams at college I felt very unprepared and completely fell apart. My results weren’t what I hoped and I thought uni was off the cards. Then I found out about UA92 and decided to apply through Clearing. After everything I’d been through in college, having no end of year exams was a huge selling point. Going through Clearing was surprisingly straight forward. I was able to use my experience as a qualified tennis coach and football referee to support my application. I felt like I was being seen for me, rather than just a set of grades. I was accepted onto the course and I’ve never looked back!

After leaving college, I started coaching sports, a job I absolutely loved! I did some coaching qualifications but realised that if I wanted to progress as a coach, I needed to look at higher education. I knew it wasn’t straight forward as I didn’t have traditional qualifications and I had been out of education for a while. Someone recommended the Fast Forward course at UA92 so I took a leap of faith and signed myself up. After a week on the course I knew I wanted to come here and after initially doing a Cert HE, I’m now in the second year of my degree.

I’m a final year Sports Management student from Bombay, India. I first started my Sports Management degree in Australia, but had to leave when pandemic hit. When I decided to join UA92, I wasn’t able to join in September, but after speaking with the registry team, I was able to join the November intake. I’m proud of myself for taking on this challenge of coming to a university in another country. At UA92, they allow you to make the most of your time, and the 92 Programme has really helped to build my professional skills.

I’m a final Physical Education student from Gorton. I’ve always had trouble with focusing, but now I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, I have loads of support from my tutors, who have helped me channel my energy into working towards becoming a teacher. Now i’m looking forward to Graduation, and if you’d told me in year one that’d i’d not only be graduating, but a speaker a graduation, I would’ve laughed. You never know if you don’t try. Go for it.

I’m a first year Cyber Security student. I was a curious kid, teaching myself things like ethical hacking, and I ended up founding my own business in the digital space. To progress my business ideas, I went to university in London, but with 5 days in a week, I found it hard to balance the business and studies. After transferring to UA92, I now have a PM timetable, and Wednesdays off to keep on top of things and get organised. I think that curious kid would be proud.

I was a bit anxious starting uni. I knew, at 22, I would be a few years older than most other students. I took a year out after college and on a whim applied for a job as a dental nurse. I quickly realised it wasn’t my dream career but I enjoyed the marketing side of it so decided to apply to uni to study Business Management. I knew I wanted to continue working but it was difficult to find somewhere that had a timetable which suited me. That’s when I came across UA92, with the fixed am/pm timetable and the fact I could get my degree in 2-years, was perfect for me. It’s been an amazing experience and I’ve made so many so many new friends from all over the world.

Cheerleading is a big part of my life. One of my biggest achievements was going to the World Cheerleading Championships. In High School, all my friends talked about going to uni but it just didn’t appeal to me – so I didn’t think I would end up going. Then I heard about UA92 and it sounded perfect. I could still coach around my studies and doing the PE degree really helps me take my coaching to the next level. Since starting at UA92, my confidence has grown massively – I’ve met loads of amazing people and even fulfilled another ambition and joined the Women’s Football Team.