Vicky's Chester Made Story: The University's strong community made me feel part of a wider family

The University of Chester Became My Second Home

When I think back to my time at Chester, what stands out most is the strong sense of community that made me feel part of a wider family and turned the university into a second home. The lecturers were incredibly supportive throughout my journey and were truly invested in our success, always encouraging us to achieve our full potential.

My Course at Chester was the Perfect Fit

What I loved most about my course was the flexibility it offered to tailor my studies around my career aspirations of coaching football in Spain, making the Combined Honours degree in Spanish with Sport and Exercise Science the perfect fit for me. I really valued the freedom to select modules that suited my own interests from a wide variety of topics on offer, and the course offered a great balance of theory and practical experience, allowing me to apply what I had learned in real-world situations.

Finding My Passion

Before attending the University of Chester, I already had a clear career path in mind and so I chose a course directly related to this, but the degree helped me develop an even stronger sense of direction and broaden my knowledge further. The Sport and Exercise Science modules enabled me to study across a range of areas within sport and to explore topics beyond just Sport Coaching, while the Spanish modules strengthened my language skills and deepened my understanding of the culture and life in Spain. Most importantly, the practical projects and placement opportunities played an important role in helping me find my path. They allowed me to apply what I was learning in a real-world setting and confirmed that this was the field I wanted to work in.

Developing Research Skills and Securing an Internship at Villarreal CF

Within the Sport and Exercise Science course, I was able to design my dissertation around a topic I was deeply passionate about. From the research and planning to the data collection and analysis, I developed valuable research skills and was able to draw meaningful conclusions on a topic of strong personal interest.

As part of my Spanish studies, I also had the opportunity to complete a six-week placement in Costa Rica which provided an incredible experience in both language immersion and cultural development. Furthermore, a key element of the course was the year abroad, which proved instrumental in helping me progress towards my current role. During this time, I secured an internship in football coaching in Spain with Villarreal CF, which subsequently led to me being offered a full-time position at the club, where I still work today.

Graduation Day at Chester Cathedral

One of my favourite memories from my time as a student was returning to Chester for my graduation day and having the ceremony in such a beautiful venue as the Chester Cathedral. It was a really proud moment to reflect on everything I had achieved throughout my degree and to celebrate it with friends, family and lecturers. After years of hard work, seeing it all come together made the day especially meaningful.

Chester Shaped Who I Am Today

My time at Chester was a significant stage in my life and a period of real personal and professional growth. It was the first time I had lived away from home, which helped me build essential life skills, including adapting to new environments and becoming more independent. At the same time, my studies provided me with a range of transferable skills that have supported my career journey and prepared me for life beyond university.

To me, being a Chester graduate represents an important chapter in my life, where I grew in confidence, developed key skills, and took a significant step in establishing my path both personally and professionally. I'm proud of my time there and the experiences that came with it, and even four years after graduating, I still feel part of the Chester community as an alumnus.

My Current Career in Spain

What I'm most proud of since starting my career is having the courage to move to Spain and turning something I love and worked so hard for into a full-time career. It has always been a dream to combine my passion for football and Spanish, and I'm proud to say I've achieved exactly that. I have now been working as a football coach at Villarreal CF in Spain for the past four years, and I take pride in the fact that I am the only English female coach at the club.

What I love most about what I do now is being able to work every day with players from all over the world and support their development. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and seeing the impact it has on those I coach, and I find that being involved in their development and having a positive influence on their journey is incredibly rewarding.

I feel my work makes a real difference to the players I work with on a daily basis. Every week is different, but I consistently see the effect of my role as a coach on how players grow, learn and improve. Being able to educate and support them not only helps their development on the pitch but also contributes to their wider growth and confidence.

Advice for Chester Students

My advice for current or future students would be to stay open-minded and take full advantage of every opportunity. Take the time to explore different areas of your degree and be willing to step outside your comfort zone as some of the most valuable experiences come from trying new things. Speaking from personal experience, gain as much practical experience as possible as this can help you discover your interests and shape your future path, and most importantly to give 100% to every opportunity because you never know where they might lead.