Course you are enrolled in?
Bachelor of Human Movement
Honours project title?
Domain-Specific Physical Activities and Area of Residence among Children and Adults
Previous high school?
Prospect High School
Previous college?
Launceston College
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a kid. I have always had a passion for sport and physical activity and this is an area I have always been interested in. I wanted the opportunity to teach students in an area that I love.
Why did you decide to do honours?
About half way through my degree I started to build an interest in the area of research within human movement. After talking to my lecturers I decided to do honours as research was an area that I wanted to be a part of on top of my degree.
Why did you choose UTAS?
UTAS was the best option for me as it allowed me to remain living at home and it provided the course that I wanted to undertake, Bachelor of Human Movement.
Highlights of your honours study/experience so far?
Doing honours has been an amazing learning curve for me. There have certainly been some tough and stressing times but the highlights would have to be being able to work on your own topic, something that you are personally interested in. I have been very lucky to work with the Menzies Research Institute of Tasmania and I am very grateful to have worked alongside amazing supervisors, Verity Cleland and the Dean, Ian Hay. Doing an honours research study has opened a lot of doors for me and this would certainly have to be a highlight of my degree.
Any advice for future honours students?
Being organised and setting yourself a timeline is probably the best advice I can give any honours student. It certainly isn’t an easy task but if you stay on top of things and don’t leave things to the last minute, everything will flow much better. Also, talking regularly to other honours students has been great for me. This has helped me through some very stressing times and it’s nice to always talk to someone who is going through the same thing as you. Finally, always ask questions. That’s what your supervisors and honours co-ordinators are for.
What are your plans after you graduate with your honours degree?
Over the summer I plan to begin writing up some papers to be published and if I achieve first class honours, next year I plan to start my PhD with the Menzies Research Institute of Tasmania. I would also like to attend an international conference in the area of healthy population/physical activity to expand my knowledge in research and hopefully present my findings.