The Preston-based 21-year-old, a former Lancaster Royal Grammar School student, is set to continue his studies at Edge Hill with a PGCE in Primary Education, specialising in PE. Daniel sees it as the start of an exciting future.
“I’m passionate about becoming a teacher and teaching people the fundamentals. I’ve enjoyed various coaching jobs during my degree, so I plan to keep coaching on the side and developing my skills too. I’m also open to other opportunities.
“With teaching experience, I’ll have a lot of transferable skills. Whatever I do, I’d like to make a positive impact on the world and live a remarkable life.”
Daniel’s optimism and ambition are a far cry from his initial days at university. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 15, his world was flipped upside down. He struggled with his condition and medication, culminating in several months in hospital just before starting his course. Heavily encouraged by his parents, he saw Edge Hill as a chance for a fresh start and a way to overcome his challenges.
“I wasn’t keen on starting uni. I had a lot of anxiety. I wouldn’t have been able to hold down a job in the state I arrived in.
“I needed something that would give me forward momentum and bring me some success. I started taking control of all areas of my life during my first year, for example, bringing my weight down from obese to a healthy BMI.
“As I went through the course, I started small, doing the right things. My progress wasn’t linear but quick, almost exponential.”
His support network of tutors, friends and family and the University environment and facilities have all helped Daniel immensely.
“I want to give special thanks to my personal tutor, Dr David Haycock. Typical catch-ups are 10 to 15 minutes long, but I would sometimes be with him for an hour and a half. He really did go above and beyond guiding me through, particularly early on. Without him, my university experience may have had a very different outcome.
“The campus itself has also been great for my mental health. It’s so welcoming, well-equipped and very peaceful. I’ve made good use of the running trails and the University gym. I feel like I’ve been forged in that place.”
Daniel recognises how far he’s come, with no better example than his efforts in rebuilding the table tennis team.
“I arrived at Edge Hill very low in confidence. The sport was a big part of finding my feet. My involvement grew over time to the point last year when I was running our first table tennis team since 2019. We played nine fixtures, had coaches coming in and made connections in the local table tennis community. My goal is to make it one of Edge Hill’s official teams.
“Table tennis seems to capture people that don’t always fit into other sports. I’ve loved seeing people enjoy the fixtures and the tournaments and grow into themselves, just like I have. That’s been big for me.”
Daniel has enjoyed many new experiences through his sports coaching degree, including working with Everton in the Community and monitoring the impact of the ‘Stand Together’ programme, combating loneliness among older adults – one of several initiatives tackling poor mental health. He also secured work as an activities manager at a Kent summer school through his on-course placement.
He has sound advice for new Edge Hill students who may be struggling with their mental health:
“You have the agency to change it, but be patient because it takes time. Keep pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens.
“Learn from others too. If I could recommend one book it would be ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear. I’ve embedded the learnings into my everyday life.
“It doesn’t matter where you start from. My first coaching session was terrible, but I managed to get through it, which was a win. It is about aiming up and taking positive steps forward. Edge Hill has helped me begin seeing my potential and I recognise the huge responsibility that comes with that.’’
Find out more about studying BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching, endorsed by CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity), and other Department of Sport and Physical Activity courses Edge Hill University.
July 18, 2024
