May 4th, 2026 | NEWS
It has been eight months since my arrival in Belfast, and the start of my journey as a Victory Scholar with Sport Changes Life and an ambassador for the Kingsbridge Foundation. While the journey has been extremely educational, exciting and rewarding, it also presented me with a fair share of challenges and adversity. Some of these challenges were small, some were more significant. All of them presented me with the opportunity to grow as a person, extend myself beyond my comfort zone, and set and achieve goals. While my focus was overcoming these challenges and adversity, what I learned along the way is that I was never alone in my effort. The inherent ability of the people of Belfast to connect with others and the sense of community support is inspiring. It is something for which I am truly grateful, and something that I plan to take forward with me in the next chapters of my life. It is also what has made Belfast a second home for me.
After a great first half of my season with the Ulster University basketball team in the Division One National League, I unfortunately suffered an ankle injury that not only derailed my season but also became a great source of frustration and disappointment for me. After attempting to return to play after missing a few weeks in January, I re-injured my ankle and faced an even greater level of disappointment as I was certain I was letting down teammates, coaches and supporters. The short hours of daylight, rain and cold temperatures that come through Belfast during January and February only added to my feelings of despair. It was during this time of adversity that I truly discovered the value and support of the community. I was surrounded by helpful people here in Belfast: people who were willing to make phone calls and appointments for me; people who gave me rides to the MRI and medical centers; a teammate who is a physio and was willing to create a rehab plan for me, check on my progress, and help me to set realistic goals for return to play at the inter-varsities national tournament for the Ulster University varsity team in early April; a doctor and professor at Ulster University who was willing to evaluate my ankle injury during a break in his teaching schedule. I learned quickly that I was not alone in this phase of my journey. What I personally experienced was the whole mission of Sport Changes Life – it takes a village to inspire others and to raise each other up, and this village (or community) extends far beyond the court or the playing field. It is about creating an environment where others can thrive. Where a small success or connection can give someone the confidence they need to take the next step and overcome the next hurdle.
With a renewed sense of purpose and positivity, I embraced my coursework in the master’s program at Ulster University, my injury rehab efforts, and my role as a mentor and volunteer with Sport Changes Life. Weekly volunteer visits to the Leisure Center to connect with seniors, laugh at their funny stories, and share activities with them feel as if I am spending time with my parents or grandparents. Mentoring and sport coaching sessions with youth and teens are filled with enjoyment and inspiration, particularly young students facing disabilities who never back down from a challenge and always think positively. A return to the basketball court for the 2026 inter-varsities tournament is something I will always remember. Drawing upon the support of my community and the inspiration I gained from others facing far bigger challenges than me, I was able to overcome my injury and experience a weekend filled with good times and basketball success as our Ulster University varsity team was able to capture the championship, and I was rewarded with the MVP award for my performance. Perhaps the greatest joy I received this weekend was having the opportunity to share our tournament championship with a teammate who was one of my mentees over the past several months as part of a basketball club coaching program. The connection, and the positive impact we had on each other throughout the tournament reminded me of that sense of community and willingness to connect that is very prevalent in the people of Belfast.
As the weather has improved dramatically with the arrival of spring, the days are much longer, and I have the Larne train line timetable memorized, I reflect on the amazing experiences I have had during my time in the Sport Changes Life program. I have spent time in Killarney, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Dublin. I have visited Derry, Portrush and the Giant’s Causeway, along with countless other small towns on the outskirts of Belfast. I have experienced concerts, sightseeing tours, home-cooked meals on Christmas and Boxing Day, wonderful restaurants and pubs in and around Belfast. Throughout all of these, I have felt the people of Belfast embrace me as one of their own and remind me that Belfast is not just a place I spend time in to study and work, but rather it is a second home for me now.
|Jack |
