Content
Swim star starts Communication degree
Rising Australian swim star Tessa Wallace, 17, is “testing the waters” of tertiary education after enrolling to study part-time at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who finished a split second behind world champion Leisel Jones in the 200m breaststroke final in Delhi last October, started a Bachelor of Communication at USC last week.
Tessa finished high school at Matthew Flinders Anglican College in 2010 and, despite missing more than a month of school due to swimming commitments, achieved a creditable OP9.
The Caloundra swimmer has her sights set on competing at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July and on representing Australia at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
However, she believes university life could play a key role in keeping her feet on the ground.
“I think going to uni will be really good for me because it will provide a balance between swimming and social,” she said. “Your head can get stuck in swimming too much and that’s not a good thing.”
Tessa said her Communication degree would provide her with a variety of career options, from public relations to advertising or journalism, possibly even conducting poolside interviews with Australia’s swim stars of the future.
“My main reason for choosing Communication is that I’ve had a lifelong dream of becoming a TV presenter,” she said. “It could be in sports or lifestyle, as I enjoy both.”
Tessa said starting with just two subjects at USC this semester would enable her to assess how well she can balance the rigours of study and her demanding 20-hours-a-week training schedule that includes nine pool sessions and several gym workouts.
“I managed to do school … just! So I should be able to handle two subjects at uni,” she said. “I’ll see how I manage part-time study and, if I can keep up to it, I might go to three subjects next semester.
Tessa praised Matthew Flinders Anglican College for its support during her senior high school years, and was confident that USC would assist her in a similar way.
“I think in the last two terms at school, I missed about two to three weeks in each term. That was really difficult, but the school was very helpful with balancing my swimming and school. I’m really thankful for all their help,” she said.
“And I’ve heard really good things about USC. It’s a good uni and it really helps its students individually.”
Tessa said studying locally also meant she could remain a member of the Pelican Waters Caloundra Swimming Club, where she first started swimming competitively.
— Terry Walsh