This semester has been like no other I have experienced since arriving in the United States as a 19-year-old boy in the Fall of 2021. Now in my senior year, I've noticed a progression in my priorities as a college student. It may have taken me longer than it should have to realize the importance of balancing life strategically and efficiently when it comes to being a student-athlete. Still, I’ve loved every minute of the journey and am grateful for the pace it took.

As a Scottish citizen, playing golf at the collegiate level in the U.S. is something that I will cherish at every moment. The home of golf is Scotland, and it is a sport that is deeply entrenched within the hearts of a lot of people. I have always wanted to prove my skillset around the world whilst getting an education, so America was the ideal place to do that. Now that my time is nearly up, I will miss every part of the journey, from the three-hour practices and the long bus rides to the 6 a.m. workouts. Every experience has shaped me to be the person I am now, and I will merit these life skills forever.
After two years at a junior college in Illinois where I started my U.S. academic and athletic path, I started to take in my stride the heavy workload and time-consuming activities that come with being a student-athlete. I knew that change was needed and the opportunity at Flagler College was something I could not turn down. I will admit, I was still confused about the higher education system in America and switching my major multiple times early in my college experience didn’t help me solidify a clear plan for my future. When I was in junior college, I didn’t appreciate the value of gaining credits and experience in my major, so when I came to Flagler, I was initially lost. Thanks to professors in Flagler’s journalism department like Brian Thompson and communication staff members like Anna Boone, the transition into the journalism world has become so much easier. They both gave great insights and advice into how important this field is and how I can make a change for so many people.
Last fall semester at Flagler College was my busiest term yet but I still enjoyed the non-stop lifestyle.
A typical morning for me is to wake up around 8 a.m. to get ready for the day, this normally includes a ‘decent’ breakfast consisting of a lot of eggs and the odd American-style breakfast burrito. Since moving to the United States, I have loved a lot of the stereotypical breakfast options. One of my favorite spots downtown is Georgie's Diner, it has great food at reasonable prices and there is always reliable service. After breakfast, I make sure I have a detailed, fully mapped-out schedule for the day. As a freshman, I wish I understood the value of having a genuine plan and structure for my day. In my opinion, routine is imperative for success AND sanity! Once I’ve got my plan for the day ironed out, my day at Flagler begins.
Most days, my classes keep me on campus for at least five or six hours. But, especially on a close-knit campus like Flagler, I enjoy the extra time spent around my professors. It gives me the ability to ask questions when needed. Ideally, I’d pick up lunch from one of my favorite spots, like the Taco Shop on St. George Street , halfway through the day to keep my energy systems going, knowing that I have either practice or a qualifying round later that afternoon.
Last semester, my favorite class was Advanced Reporting, taught by Professor Brian Thompson. The relaxed environment class allowed me to come up with fresh ideas that I really cared about and believed more people should know about. That class taught me the value of great communication whilst having a driven work ethic, both traits that I can carry with me after graduation.

After my day on campus, which concludes around 2:30 p.m., I head back to my apartment, which is just a few miles away. My roommate and I, who is also a golfer at Flagler, head off to team practice at 3 p.m. where we will be for about three hours. Our coaches do a great job tailoring practice time to fit each player’s needs. We work hard to prove to ourselves and our coaches that we deserve a spot on the traveling team. The selection process is straightforward: all 12 team members compete in qualifying rounds which vary from one to six rounds of 18 holes, and the five players with the lowest scores earn a place in the upcoming tournament. There are some exceptions, but this is generally how it works. It's an exciting but high-pressure situation for everyone involved.

Both in the fall and spring, we travel a lot. On non-tournament weeks, my nightly routine is standard. Get back from practice, shower, and make dinner. As I've grown older, I've developed a stronger interest in cooking good meals for myself and fellow athlete roommates. Now, it's something I enjoy doing after a long day to relax and mentally prepare for whatever the next day has in store. I usually have about one to two hours of homework per day, that I tend to either complete at night or in my free time on campus. Slower weeks when we don’t have tournaments are highly important for resting the mind and body, inevitably preparing myself for when the schedule becomes non-stop again.
Our main season would be in the spring with the Conference Championship in April, hopefully leading us on to Regionals and Nationals. I’ve found it vital to be even more focused in the classroom during this busy period to stay on track academically. I think what a lot of non-athletes don’t realize is how much time we spend away from campus for competitions. On top of this, all Flagler sports teams are required to complete two “lifts” per week that are held promptly at 6:30 a.m. These early morning weight trainings are helpful for getting me to my fitness goals and keeping me on track with the key trait of discipline.
While some of my peers may see our time out of class as a perk, it's not always as desirable as they'd think. Playing in a collegiate golf tournament is an honor that such a tiny percentage of the population will ever have. However, those tournament weeks are long and stressful. I’ve consequently become accustomed to the feeling of being on my back foot and the stress of constantly catching up on schoolwork and social life. But, at the end of the day, those times also have the ability to make me feel ecstatic.
Living in America since I was 19 has truly shaped me into a more cultured and well-rounded person. The friendships I've made and the lessons I've learned over these four years are invaluable. I know they'll stick with me forever, setting me up for whatever comes next in life.