The field of Sport Science with Management has increasingly become my clear choice of university study. I have been passionate about sport since a young age and it has been an extensive part of my life. At age fifteen, I took advantage of the option to study intensive sport for an additional three hours per week. This enabled me to try out different activities such as athletics and badminton. I succeeded well in badminton and was selected to represent my region in competitions. Furthermore, this subject included an hour per week studying sport theory, which focused on the technical rules and regulations of various sports. In addition to my passion for sport I am also interested in the science of the underlying functioning of the human body and its responses to aerobic and anaerobic exercise. I chose to study the scientific option of the French Baccalaureate, which includes components of biology, maths, physics and chemistry. I am eager to gain a greater understanding of the science of the body’s physiological reactions during sport and how this can be supported and enhanced by specific techniques, equipment or clothing.

Apart from my sporting studies at school, I was a member of a tennis club from age seven, playing well enough to become captain of the squad five years later. This role gave me first-hand experience of what it means to be responsible for others, understanding team-mates’ needs, learning how to motivate individuals and deciding on team strategies. I understood that it is essential to set an example and be a role model for younger tennis players. I was happy to take on these extra responsibilities. As I wanted to get more involved in tennis, I applied to be a ball boy at Roland Garros when I was fourteen. The Paris-based championship has a very thorough and competitive selection process and I was proud to be successful, thanks in part to my strong commitment during the selection week. I really appreciated the opportunity to help the world’s greatest tennis players, which gave me a further taste for responsibilities and discipline.

I have already had experience of living in an English-speaking country; from the ages of one to seven I lived in New York, where I learnt English at the French American School of New York in Larchmont, USA. Arriving in London with my family from France in August 2012 I enrolled into my schools’ badminton club. I participated in numerous tournaments, which led to me being selected to represent our school at the ISSA international competition in Lisbon. I have been informed me that I will be invited to represent my school once again in this tournament in the coming year.

My educational experience this year at the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle has opened my eyes to how powerful sport can be and to the important and integral role it can play, not only in health and education, but also in society in general. Living in London during the 2012 London Olympic Games helped me gain an understanding of the link between sport and commerce. I have been inspired by the lasting and positive impact the Olympic Games has had on the British economy. During my work experience in a sailing school in Brittany when I was sixteen, I had a first taste of the commerce of sport, not only teaching children to sail, but also assisting in the management of the school. This involved organising the timetable of the lessons and being responsible for the enrolment of the children. I also had the opportunity of work experience in a hotel where I was able to observe many aspects of the running of it, from reception to the management of the restaurants.

These experiences allowed me to be directly exposed to management and to understand the importance of the commercial, marketing and accounting functions involved in running a successful business. Applying the knowledge I would gain through studying the science of sport in a business context combined with my passion for this field, is a very exciting prospect for me.