Azaan secures place to study Law after enrolling as a Level 1 Sport student following move from India

Having gained A Level A grades in Law and Psychology and a B in Business, Azaan is now heading for Higher Education at the age of 20 with the ambition of becoming a solicitor or a barrister following what he describes as “a very long project”.

And he insists that happy ending to his studies at Sim Balk Lane would not have been possible without the help of York College’s “legendary” tutors, progress coaches and careers advisors.

Azaan also leaves Campus having gained leadership skills through his time as captain of the college basketball team and as coach of the University of York women’s side during his final year.

On his academic journey at York College, Azaan said: “I thought I wasn't going to get the A Level grades I did, given all the stress I’ve been through. It has been a very long project. 

“I moved from India three-and-a-half years ago and had just finished the equivalent of GCSEs there but had to start on a Level 1 Sport course when I came here. I was a January start and just wanted to play basketball to be honest, but I ended up with a Merit.

“I then started off doing Accounting, Economics and Maths A Levels and Maths was hard for me, but I'd missed the deadline to swap over courses, so I just had to get through that year and then swap again, so I'm two years behind where I should be because of the move from India, too.”

Helping him to maintain focus during testing times, though, were a long list of staff members that Azaan, who also volunteered to help at Open Events and acted as the Student Ambassador for Law during his time at College, credits for helping him fulfil his potential.

“From the very start on my Sport course, Lynn (Aikman), Sally (Mair), Matthew Wain, Mark (Smith), Amy (Gledhill) and Stu (Horsfield) were all really helpful with me and that continued throughout my time at College,” he declared. 

“In India, most schools are private and the culture and education system are very, very different so, during the first year I was here, I didn't find it very easy, but then I got used to it and the teachers helped me out. 

“They gave me a lot of support, as did my progress coaches Alex Godfrey and Paul Eckert, along with Freddie Hopkins from Careers. I've had multiple meetings with him about what I might want to do. 

“They are all legendary figures at York College who have helped me quite a lot. Then, in my final two years, my teachers – Clare (Kirton), Paul (Harrison), Kayleigh (Jude) and Pete (Fenton) - have been really, really helpful. 

“Clare (a former practicing solicitor) works so hard. She even works harder than us and, if she did our exams for us, she’d definitely come out with A*s.”

Unable to get a Student Loan because he is neither classified as an international student or a home student (until he completes five years as a UK resident), Azaan is also thankful to his family, who are helping him fund the relatively lower fees charged by Leeds Trinity. 

When there, he hopes to further nurture the basketball playing and coaching skills, too, that he has acquired as part of the college’s Basketball Development Centre under the guidance of Tyler Paton-Pottage.

The team train up to three days a week and play fixtures on a Wednesday afternoon with Azaan adding: “I've been able to play basketball throughout my time at College.

“I captained the team and, then, during my last year, I was Assistant Coach. I also coached the University of York women’s basketball team. 

“Unfortunately, we lost the Roses game by one point this year, but it was a really good experience, coaching in front of 1,000 people. I could potentially do some coaching on the side in the future, but I’m working towards my Law degree now and would love to become a solicitor or a barrister.” 

He went on to point out how playing sport at College helped him to acclimatise to a new educational environment, as he quickly gained a social circle of close friends.

“Playing basketball has genuinely been one of my favourite things about College,” he enthused. “I even think of my coach Tyler as one of my best friends outside of College.

“I used to play for York Eagles, where he coaches as well. I’ve coached there, too, and I’ve learned a lot from him – playing and coaching wise.

“I’ve probably spent more time with him than I have at home whilst I’ve been at College and the friends that I've made from basketball here have made my whole College experience so much better.

“It was how I found my first friend - Freddie Marshall – in my first year. Then, I also became really good friends with others in the team. That’s the good thing about sport - it brings everyone together.”

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