Jasmine Wooton and I are the two scholars attending Dublin City University (DCU) for the next year! It is the first year Sport Changes Life and DCU are partnering together. With that, we will be studying in the master’s programs here—Jasmine in HR and myself in Business Management. We will also be members of two basketball teams while we are here—one with our university, and one with a local club team called DCU Mercy. It’s a little confusing, but what you need to know is that club teams are very serious here and in the rest of Europe as well. So, the DCU Mercy Club team will demand the biggest commitment. ANOTHER part of this amazing SCL program is that we will be coaching Irish youth in our surrounding communities. SO, to clarify: my year with Sport Changes Life will allow me to pursue a master’s degree, play basketball, and coach youth in the area. It really is a package deal.
Since we have arrived at DCU, Jasmine and I have had plenty of time to explore, get settled in, and prepare for the year ahead. We don’t start school until the 20th, so we’ve had plenty of time to enjoy DCU and the surrounding area. We’ve gone into the city centre (don’t ask how much we’ve spent on bus fees), done endless amounts of grocery shopping (we eat well), visited other scholars, and have been in preseason training for DCU Mercy. We toured the Guinness factory as well, which was cool because they taught you how to properly prepare a glass of Guinness beer. They called it “graduating from the Guinness Academy” so hit us up with any questions. We also saw a Riverdance show at Gaiety Theatre in city centre, which was incredible! They were pure athletes with the caliber of Irish step dancing they were executing. I’ve also had way too much Gino’s, which is gelato, but no regrets here. It’s delicious and smooth and creamy and makes me happy (mouth currently watering). It’s all been so great but we know we’re about to get much busier soon—with orientation this week and school starting next week, we will have our hands full! But it is all worth it!
