Pursuing Activities Outside School
Sam studied Sport Business Management at Sheffield Hallam University. He is originally from Sheffield but still moved out when he started his studies. He worked as a football referee when studying, starting out at a level 7 grade. He is now a level 4 referee as well as a Higher Education Engagement Assistant at Hepp.
When I was at secondary school, I didn’t realise how much of an impact taking part in activities outside school would have on me later on in life. I’m someone who puts 100% into everything I do and have always been up for trying new things. I started Scouting when I was six, a decision my parents made for me, but it was certainly my choice to keep going when I started secondary school. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was setting a great foundation for life.
The experiences I shared with my peers in Scouts have aided me in the long-term. Attending two World Scout Jamborees, one in Sweden and the other in Japan, developed my cultural awareness. I really began to understand the various backgrounds people come from. Also, helping to set up a new Scout group in one of the most socially deprived areas of Sheffield showed me that the smallest things can brighten up a young person’s week. I still believe that working with a range of young people in the Scouts is what helped me get the role I currently have within Hepp.
During secondary school, I took my football referees exam and started officiating as a 15-year-old. Having the responsibility of refereeing gave me a lot of confidences as an adolescent. Dealing with conflict is a weekly occurrence, that’s just the nature of the game. This confidence has helped me to challenge myself and take on larger tasks at work that I may have shied away from without my previous experiences.
If I had to give one bit of advice to someone not knowing how they can best utilise their time, it would be to always give something a go. You don’t know you’ll like it unless you try it! I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without that theory. Like with Scouting and football refereeing, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy going to university. I always thought it was for the rich and A* students. It really isn’t, I finished school with average grades and come from a working-class background. University is one of the most diverse places I have ever been.
Categories: Graduate Interns.