Daniel Alexander Watson (Class of 2018)
Reading Bsc in Aeronautical Engineering at University of Loughborough
Hi Daniel! Can you share with us your experiences at university so far?
So far, it has been an exciting and eye-opening time at Loughborough. Freshers’ Week was fantastic – there were numerous highly enjoyable activities which gave me the opportunity to meet so many different people from all over the world! People here are really friendly and keen to help, and I’ve made many new friends which has made settling in a breeze. In addition, there are numerous opportunities to play sports here, and a variety of fantastic societies to encourage me to try different things – so plenty to keep me busy on top of my studies.
Ony my course, I have met numerous like-minded people which has been enlightening and really helped to motivate me with my studies.
How did GIS prepare you for university life?
GIS has helped prepare me for university by encouraging me to be independent and hard-working, two key attributes for studying in university, as well as pushing me to get involved during lessons and ask questions. My teachers were constantly challenging us to improve, and always pushing us to be creative when solving problems – skills which I have already needed to utilise with my university coursework.
By taking Design & Technology, which is a coursework-based subject, I learnt how to manage my time effectively and plan ahead to meet all my deadlines, as well as balance my studies with other commitments. Being given the opportunity to do the Extended Project also taught me many necessary academic study skills which I have found useful.
Furthermore, by offering extracurricular activities such as sports and CCAs, GIS allowed me to develop my communication and leadership skills, both of which will be vital in my future. I feel that without the guidance and support from both my parents and my teachers at GIS, I wouldn’t be here studying Aeronautical Engineering, which is a true passion of mine!