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Across 22-31 July, the Class of 2025 have been taking to the stage in their graduation ceremonies. In this ‘Meet our 2025 Graduates’ series, we’re spotlighting some of our incredible graduates and their stories. 

Mackenzie Hurrell graduated from BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology on Thursday 24 July. In this latest instalment, he shares how his mindset developed throughout his degree and what has been the most rewarding part of his university experience. 

What motivated you to be so engaged with your course?

My family has played a huge part in motivating me in everything I do. From a young age, they have encouraged me to try out a variety of different sports and remain dedicated to my education, shaping me into a hard-working individual.

During my GCSEs, my motivation to achieve my target grades stemmed from underachieving in my end-of-year exams in year 10, and I was very disappointed in myself. After reflecting with my parents on where I had gone wrong, I made some sacrifices to prevent distractions and motivate myself to achieve my target grades, which I ultimately attained. 

When making the transition into A-levels, I watched the ‘All or Nothing: Manchester City' documentary, where behind-the-scenes footage of the football club exposed me to the many jobs available in the sport I love. 

Having chosen to study PE and Psychology at A-level, it seemed an obvious choice to pursue a career in sports psychology, with the ambition to work at a professional football club. As it is a very competitive field, this spurred me on to put 100% effort into my exams and achieve my target grades, hoping this will separate me from others.

All in all, these milestones, combined with the unwavering support from my family, have embedded a strong work ethic that has motivated me to engage more deeply with my course each year. Setting high targets to achieve a first-class degree, which I have recently accomplished, has driven me to do my best during my studies, making me and my family proud.

What area have you most enjoyed studying? 

Skill acquisition involves the learning and development of human motor skills and expertise through cognitive and perceptual processes. I have always found this field of study fascinating, especially when applied to performance analysis environments.

I thoroughly enjoy observing and analysing athletic performance and then attempting to construct practice centred around improving theory, such as decision-making, anticipation, and attentional control. As my passion lies in working with athletes and enhancing performance, I find this applied area of study extremely interesting and enjoyable as I can explore and experiment with methods to optimise performance amongst elite athletes.

How has your approach to learning kept you curious and consistent in your course?

Knowing that I want to pursue a career as a Sports Psychology Practitioner in the future has played a huge role in keeping me curious and consistent. This has helped maintain my desire to develop and advance my knowledge every day, through being punctual, organised, and determined. Whether it is developing previously learned content or learning new material, I am always keen to acquire knowledge and understand how I can apply it in a sports performance environment.

Do you have any specific strategies that have helped you excel academically?

Firstly, being punctual is essential! Attending every lecture, workshop, and seminar will set you apart from others as you benefit from listening and interacting with very knowledgeable lecturers, as well as applying the taught knowledge, which you cannot benefit from by not attending and just reading slides. 

This leads nicely onto my next point: making sure to ask your lecturers questions if you are unsure about something. They are there for your benefit, so make the most of their expertise to learn, gain clarification, and ask questions. 

Another strategy is accessing the week’s learning material before it commences. Doing this every week has proved to be the most effective way for me to prepare for what is being taught, as well as completing any set readings to broaden my understanding of a topic. Exploring the course pages on Moodle at the start of each semester has also been very beneficial. Noting down when my deadlines are, what is expected from each assignment, and identifying the whereabouts of reading lists has helped me stay prepared and organised for every module. 

A final strategy that has helped my academic studies is staying organised. Planning when to go to the gym, play football, and socialise with my friends around my academic schedule has been essential to switch off from the workload and recharge. This helps to maximise my concentration when it is required for my studies. Also, ensuring all my notes, slides, readings and assignments are organised has saved time finding information at a later date, so I would highly recommend keeping on top of that.

What has been the most rewarding part of your academic journey for you?

Achieving a first-class degree in my course has got to be the most rewarding aspect of my academic journey. I have struggled at times during my degree, worried about not reaching my goals and letting myself down, despite knowing I put all my effort into my course and assignments. However, continuing to be hard-working, seeking support from lecturers, and maintaining a good work-life balance has made my academic journey even more rewarding, leaving me with no regrets.

What advice would you give to incoming students who want to strive for strong academic performance?

The key advice I can give from my academic experience is: be punctual, be organised, be motivated, take initiative, engage, and go further. Ticking all these boxes will set you on a pathway to achieving your goals. However, it is very important to rest and recharge your academic battery, so make sure not to compromise the things you love and enjoy, as these activities are essential to staying happy and enjoying your university experience. A healthy work-life balance is vital.

Can you share one quote that you think would inspire your peers?

"The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it."