Ava McGowan (16) from Castlewellan, is on a pathway to achieving her dream of becoming a personal trainer following progression to the Level 2 Traineeship in Sport at SERC.
After moving to Northern Ireland from Scotland with her family, Ava realised while studying her GCSEs that school was not for her. She had always had a passion for sport since she was a child and decided to find a pathway to study sport. Ava had heard good things about the course through friends and decided to enrol at SERC’s Downpatrick Campus.
Speaking about the course she said, “My favourite parts of the course are fitness and learning about human anatomy. We also cover nutrition and how to properly fuel your body. The practical side to the course is great as we practice different sports such as badminton and baseball, and I already feel a positive difference in my level of fitness since starting the traineeship. The facilities are great; we use the college’s gym for exercise and the college’s sports hall and Down Leisure Centre for our sports activities. I’m definitely a practical and visual learner, so learning about sport through a variety of sporting activities has been great for me.
“I feel like I’ve learnt more during this course than I ever did at school. The tutors are really helpful, but at the same time they don’t treat you like a child. They are approachable and there is help when you need it, but there is also the space to work a little more independently.”
Ava concluded, “SERC is a great place to study, and I recommend coming to the college. The course is geared for anyone interested in pursuing a career in sport and fitness. Everyone - tutors and fellow students – have been really nice. After this course, I want to progress to the Level 3 in Sport at SERC and then possibly start my own business as a personal trainer. I feel like everything on this course is getting me closer to that goal.”
There is still time to apply for courses commencing September 2026.
