By Jovinus Ong, Bachelor of Science Sport and Exercise Science (Top-up)
Stereotypical Views of Private Education
When people around me knew about my enrolment in PSB Academy to study for a private degree, they made judgemental statements, such as “If you are smart enough, you won’t be in a private institution.” This misconception has caused me and many other individuals to feel defeated. I initially felt hesitant to consider private education, as I actually wanted to go to a public university.
However, my passion in sports since young means that my focus has always been on physical training and exercise instead of my studies. Hence, my school grades have been mostly average. Although I eventually attained my Sport and Exercise Science diploma from Republic Polytechnic, it was still tough for me trying to enrol in a local university with an average Grade Point Average (GPA) score.
When I searched for what I could do to further my interest in sports, I discovered that PSB Academy offered degrees for Sport and Exercise Science. After looking through their lists of modules and checking with several friends who were PSB Academy alumni, I went to look at the school’s facilities. Although I was not very optimistic about being qualified due to my average grades, I decided to try and apply for their course, Bachelor of Science Sport and Exercise Science (Top-up), Edinburgh Napier University (ENU). I was very happy when PSB Academy accepted my application. With my academic qualifications and background, I was even exempted from taking the entire Level 8 modules, which definitely gave me a good head-start in my career, allowing me to start working earlier than my peers.
Balanced, Well Supported Life at PSB Academy
Throughout my education with ENU, I was fortunate to have been taught by my lecturers who were knowledgeable and passionate, which was different from the misconception that lecturers in private education institutions are lazy or are just there to get paid to conduct their lessons. The lecturers at PSB Academy were more responsive and engaging than those in local universities, based on the feedback that I heard from my friends who studied in the local universities.
My lecturers were always ready to help the students, even when they did not reach out for assistance. Lecturers such as Mr Khaliq, Ms Mariam and Mr Edgar were all very willing to stay behind after lessons to help us, which motivated me to do even better in school and at work. Recounting one of the many interesting lessons I had – one of which was when we were taking an exercise programming class with Mr Khaliq at The Cage for our practical lesson. During the lesson, we went through numerous physical and agility tests prescribed for athletes or anyone looking to improve their performance in their sports.
Pushing Boundaries with a Private Degree at PSB Academy
The modules that I took at PSB Academy also helped me at work. For instance, as a Strength and Conditioning coach at Evolve MMA, I conducted classes and specific exercises to help improve the performance of martial artists of Muay Thai, Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Since I also need to ensure that proper execution and techniques are used to prevent injuries, I am able to harness the knowledge that I received from my Science Sport and Exercise Science course at PSB Academy. I would guide the practitioners and constantly monitor the exercises and adjust their intensity to ensure that the martial arts practitioners would not be burnt out or injure themselves.
Looking back, I have never regretted taking a private degree course. Some students are late bloomers, but this does not mean that they will not succeed later in life. To me, as long as you are willing to put in the work and keep going, it does not matter what kind of education you receive. I believe that experience supersedes the reputation of the institution you came from, as skill sets are what the employers of today are looking for. Moreover, almost everyone has gone through university nowadays, and some of us learn and perform better in a different environment. There is no need to follow the crowd or live a life governed by people’s opinions.
If you have a passion for sports, PSB Academy’s Bachelor of Science Sport and Exercise Science (Top-up), Edinburgh Napier University offers more than what most Sports Science degrees do, as it explores the science used to help the body perform to its full potential. It also approaches the application of science to sports in a very practical way, encouraging students to use equipment involved in all aspects of sports science, such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports psychology, injury rehabilitation and coaching. Send us an enquiry today.
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