When Darren’s not studying to be a leader in business, he’s out on the pitch.
Darren is studying a Bachelor of Business, alongside continuing his passion for football with Massey’s Academy of Sport.
Impressively, he’s commuting between Wellington and the Manawatū twice a week for football training. “Adding early morning lectures and a futsal training… definitely makes for a busy schedule!”
Darren’s had a passion for sport for a long time, playing football constantly since intermediate. During school, he struggled to balance sports and learning. Massey’s support has been crucial for finding better balance at university.
University can be scary at the start, and Darren was no exception. Many of his friends went elsewhere, but the friendly campus culture meant it didn’t stay daunting for long.
“Everyone here is easy to talk to, and the lecturers are approachable and always willing to help. I appreciate that because when it takes me a bit longer to grasp concepts, they’re always happy to answer my questions after lectures. There’s quite a homely type feeling, which made settling in much easier.“
Study business
Work with leaders, focus on real projects and learn how to go far in a fast-paced, exciting environment.
He’s found his courses fascinating, too. The information in his management degree is fresh and current. That makes it a lot easier for Darren to “connect theory with real-world practice.”
Another big reason he chose Massey is because of family. His dad works at Massey as a Student Registry Advisor. “His experience and mentorship is invaluable for my future career.” Best of all, family is close by when he needs it.
It’s not the biggest surprise that even during study, Darren is looking to the future. He wants to use his education to coach more kids in Palmerston North, where he calls home.
“Currently, many players head to Wellington for football opportunities, so I’d like to combine my degree with my passion for sports to coach younger players.”
He sees an opportunity to boost the football community in the Manawatū. Through Massey, he’s gaining the skills to make it a reality.
