Kevin de Keijzer

I grew up in the Philippines, which was a wonderful experience, but I found myself at 17 with no goals, poor grades, and what felt like bleak prospects ahead of me. I then bucked my ideas up and forced myself to work as hard as I could for my last year of high school, where I recognised my passion for sport and coaching.

I chose the University of Suffolk because of the practical opportunities that were available to us outside of classes to learn, apply, and grow as practitioners, which I knew was essential to employment at the end of the course.

Ipswich is a beautiful town just outside of London and only a short distance from Stansted airport, making travel to visit family a little bit easier. Spending three years here and then deciding to do another for my masters at Suffolk has been an easy and great choice. I have fallen in love with the countryside and the town’s beautiful waterfront where I spend most of my time studying and working with my tutors on projects.

I chose strength and conditioning because I was passionate about physical preparation for elite athletes. My ultimate goal is to work at Juventus F.C. and although that is still my ambition, being at university has taught me that there is much more to life than just professional development. I have learnt to appreciate the coaching, research, and teaching element that surrounds Strength and Conditioning. My time at university has allowed me to delve into the different pathways for me to consider which one is best for me at the end of my degree.

The course has taught me everything from how to interact with professionals in high-pressure environments, such as a football clubs, to how to apply contemporary research in a practical and efficient manner with athletes. All the staff are constantly looking to grow and improve, moulding this university evermore into a fantastic institution for learning. I feel like I have been a part of this and have finally given my ambitions and myself the time and effort necessary to grow and achieve my full potential.

My time at Suffolk has moulded me into who I am today. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you get yourself out there and just let yourself make friends. Make the most of your course and utilise all of the resources available to you, just like with relationships, build yourself up from day 1 so that when you look back at your University years you are truly proud of what you have achieved.