Thomas Kitchen

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background etc?

My main hobby is going to the gym, I do that about 6 times a week. So, I originally started off at Sixth Form, but I found out halfway through that that wasn't really for me, so I left. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, I was looking at apprenticeships and everything and then I just looked at what I was really interested in and that was the gym. I went online and looked at different courses and this one really stood out to me because of what was taught so I decided to enrol.

I started going to the gym at 16 because I couldn’t keep playing football because I wanted to get a part-time job and I needed something that was more flexible and ever since then I fell in love with it.

How did you hear about Newcastle College? Did you attend an Open Day prior to starting at the College? If so, did you find it useful?

I was told about the different colleges in the area, and different apprenticeships too but my girlfriend’s mam mentioned Newcastle College because that’s where she studied. So I had a look on the website and I’d already been given a positive recommendation so I decided to just apply on the same day online. After I applied, I was invited onto campus for an Open Day for Sport and Exercise Science, but on the same day, I spoke to my (now) lecturer, Chris Newby, and he recommended I switch courses because it was going to be better suited for me for the fitness side of things. I’m so glad Chris was able to give me some advice and help me out.

On the Open Day we were taken to the Sports Hall, and what stood out was the amount of facilities that the College has, for example, football pitch, basketball court, climbing wall and a gym that most local leisure centre’s wouldn’t have. I just thought if they’re investing in equipment like that, then the teaching will be the same, if not better.

How would you describe the advice and support you received from college and your tutors? Have you had any support for our Central Support Team – Pastoral support?

Its really good, I received advice from staff like ‘Don’t be shy, just ask’, so if I ever needed any advice or help with assignments I knew I could just go straight to my lecturers.  You don't need to be afraid to ask either, and I think that's definitely something I learned when I was there, because when you were at school the teachers would teach you that like they would treat you as children and like that that really came across in high school but when I went to college, I was really surprised on how much I was treated like an adult and how much I was respected and people actually wanted to hear your side of the story. The lecturers are more like a friend than a teacher – I feel like I can just have an open conversation with them like I would a friend.

Do you have any tutors who have industry experience? If so, how has this helped you?

Yeah in our first year we got taught by Chris and he has experience in personal training and so does Neil. It really helped us because they were able to give us real life examples of any situations they came across and how they approached or adapted each thing – it really gave us a good understanding on how to prepare for different situations in the future. Its just that first-hand experience and getting that knowledge from them, so its not like they’re just learning it from a textbook, they’ve done it and got the t-shirt – I think that’s what’s so different from college to Sixth Form.

Did you look into financial support available from the college? If so what were they and how did they help?

No, I didn’t.

Have you overcome any challenges while on your course? If so how has the college helped you?

I was a really nervous person at the start of my course, and I just kept myself to myself. Obviously I switched courses to after a week so I thought everyone would have gotten to know each other already but as soon as I got in, everyone was really nice and they just got me involved straight away and asked my name and it just made me feel a lot more relaxed. So I think, over the two years I've been at college, that not just the teachers, but a lot of my classmates as well, they've helped me overcome that nervousness and worrying about things or speaking to people. I think that's really important especially for the industry that I want to go into because you have to be able to speak to people, tell people what to do, whilst also being like friendly and approachable. So after two years, I think I’m such an outgoing person and I can just go up and speak to anybody – its really built up my confidence.

What do you/did you enjoy most about your course?

It's got to be the range of subjects that is taught within the course, It’s not just Fitness and Personal Training. For example, we also got taught massage and we did some practical on how to massage people. It really stood out to me the wide range of things we got taught. And making friends – there was never a divide, and we were all really good mates.

Have you done any work experience or a work placement as part of your course?

When we got offered our work experience, I choose to do something along the lines of physio because I needed some experience for my university application. I went to do a placement in Blyth, and I spent some time there doing sports massages as well as learning about physio. Also, Pure Gym have been in a couple of times and spoken to us – they’re offering a 9-week placement for second year students and that could potentially lead into a job as a Personal Trainer, which has all came from the College. The course has led to job opportunities before I’ve ever left.

How do you feel that the course has/is benefitting you?

Yeah, definitely, so when I first started, I was never 100% sure on what I wanted to go into, which is like most 16/17-year-olds, most of them don't have a clue what they want to do when they’re older. However, in September I’m going to university to do Physiotherapy and that's something that came to me while I was doing the course because I was able to speak to different lectures and get their opinions, which has really helped. During the summer as well, I’m looking to start up a bootcamp as well which I wouldn’t be doing without my qualification – its going to get my experience up within personal training because that is something I want to do in the future too.

Without studying here, I don’t think I’d have been doing what interests me and I don’t think I’d be following my passion.

What would you like to do when you finish your course? Would you consider studying a degree at Newcastle College University Centre?

Obviously, I’m going to Northumbria University and staying local. Kane, my lecturer, helped me with my University application a lot and no matter how many times I sent it back to him to check he was just there willing to help. He kept saying ‘I want it to be right for you because I want you to get into University’, which was really nice. He did it for others on the course too – if you put the effort in in their classes, they’ll give it back to you 10x.

From putting the effort in, I got accepted into York and Northumbria because of my grades, I came out with 3 Distinction* - which is more than enough UCAS points for me.

I know I wanted to do Physiotherapy so I couldn’t study here, but one of my best friends on the course if staying on to study at the University Centre. If I wasn’t sure I wanted to do Physio, I would have 100% stayed on because the degree does look really interesting.

What are your ambitions for the future?

So after I finish University, I want to become a Physiotherapist and work within the NHS and then one day my main goal is to start up my own gym with a friend, alongside being a Physiotherapist. When I started the College, I never thought I’d be interested in Lecturing but after two-years it’s something I think I’d really enjoy. One of my lecturers does it part-time because she plays football for Northern Ireland so it’s made me think it’s something I could do in the future alongside the gym and share my first-hand experience to students.

What would you say to anyone thinking of studying a couse with Newcastle College?

Go for it! It’ll be a great experience, you’ll meet a lot of new friends and the lecturers are absolutely top class. They know what they’re talking about and they’re always willing to help.

Top tips

Study something you enjoy doing

Don’t overthink it, be confident because there’s no need

Always remember your lanyard

Get to college early if you want to get a parking space

Enjoy it!