Competing in the Taekwon-Do World Cup was quite different to studying education, but for Bree Hooper-Whiti, a UCOL New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care - Level 4 student, she took it all in her stride.
Bree admits that balancing both being a student and competing is hard at times “Some nights I have missed half of training but I have always found a way to cope. The advice I’d give to other students about balancing both would be to figure out your time wisely. Time management between two things is important so you are able to do both.”
Competing isn’t a new thing, with Bree entering regular competitions, and placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in most of them. The lead up to the Taekwon-Do World Cup at Olympic Park in Sydney was certainly more intense, with additional training, and taking part in fundraising to pay for the trip to Sydney, Australia.
Twenty five competitors aged between 18-35 years old were in Bree’s division. Despite going out of the competition in the first round, she said it was an amazing experience to represent her team and country at the world championships.
Bree doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon as she continues to train and aims to continue as an instructor in her club “Once I have finished my studies I would like to be teaching full time as an Early Childhood Education Teacher as well as still be training and/or instructing at my club. I am committed to both my training and my career so I would love to be doing both once I've finished my studies.”
“I train with my club Phoenix Taekwon-Do about 3 times a week - my advice to other students balancing outside interests to study, would be to keep on top of your assignments, it’s important that your studies are up-to- date and in on time.”