One thing I'll never forget about studying at the School of Management is the people. I made friends for life just by sitting in the management building, bonding over the mutual feeling of working hard and revising for exams.
The Christmas before joining university, I got offered a three-year contract at Bath Rugby. I moved into our training facility the day after I finished my A levels and, come results day, I remember running around the place celebrating with other teammates my age. We were so excited because we got into the universities we wanted to go to. Mine was Bath.
I've always had an interest in doing a business degree. I studied business at A level and wanted to stay in Bath for rugby. Plus, Bath is one of the prettiest cities around - why would I move elsewhere?
That combination led me to the BSc Business degree at the School of Management. I was extremely lucky and grateful to get accepted on to it.
"It’s been a whirlwind of a year"
Studying at the School of Management has rounded me as a person; I've met friends from all over the world and developed good people skills because of it. I think that's the best thing about this degree. I have more of a holistic knowledge of all the facets of business now, whether it be accounting or marketing. The business degree covered all the bases and allowed me to keep my area of expertise quite wide.
It’s been a whirlwind of a year. I've finished university, at Bath Rugby we have won three trophies, and I've got my first cap for England. Now it has all sunk in it feels surreal.
"I was at the Six Nations training camp while doing my dissertation. There were tears of joy when I finished!"
The season I made my debut in Bath Rugby’s First Team, we finished bottom of the table. Fast forward three years and we've been winning all season. We won the Premiership Cup. It was Bath Rugby’s first trophy in 17 years. Then we won the European Challenge Cup and most recently we won the Premiership Final. 29 years ago, my dad played in the last Premiership Final Bath won, so it was a full circle moment.
I was at the Six Nations training camp while doing my dissertation. There were tears of joy when I finished!
"I’m endlessly thankful to the University staff"
Unfortunately, I couldn't attend my graduation ceremony because of rugby commitments. I’m endlessly thankful to the University staff, I don't think I realised until now how much they did to help me.
I can't thank Dr. Tim Hill enough for his encouragement. He had so many responsibilities, as a lecturer and Director of Studies, yet he still found the time to support me throughout my six years at university. I don't think I could have done it unless he was around.
To me, ambition is the constant pursuit of growth and always looking for improvement - if you're sitting still, you're going backwards.