Page 11 - Winter Newsletter 2015

In order to be an exceptional young academic in this ield, I think

What got me through it was you have to read, read, and read. You also need to challenge what

my resilient “never give up” you are reading and think of practical experiences. You must

be rigorous, but this does not always mean that you have to do
attitude.
something completely different than what has been done. Always

try to be positive, and look at things constructively because, in life,

you will continually be challenged. Some reviewers are unkind, but

you must have belief in yourself.

Furthermore, most research on elite sport had not focused on

particular organizational settings; thus, I expected my research The AASP conference is the meeting I have most attended. It has

to be novel and make a signiicant contribution. After months of allowed me to develop a strong network with applied researchers,

searching, I was fortunate to identify an organization in which I could athletes, and coaches, and learn about applied sport psychology.

immerse myself for three years to conduct multiple studies. This These experiences have been instrumental in my PhD work with

opportunity was quite unique and made this research very special. a professional organization. I had to advocate for my project, and

AASP played a key role in helping me shape that message and
I also had two fantastic PhD supervisors who both emphasized that

every study had to be rigorous, and no stones could be left unturned. deliver the indings to coaches and athletes in a way they could

There was a strong theory and practice link in my doctoral work. understand. In the future, my aim is to publish a few more papers

It was grounded in organizational psychology and based on a from my dissertation. My number one priority, however, is to apply

sound mixed methods design that allowed me to look at the focal psychology to sport and extend this research to other ields such as

phenomenon from all possible angles. The intervention, which nursing, medical education, and the military.

interestingly required adaptation throughout to meet the needs of In conclusion, Dr. Rumbold’s journey reveals that the path to becoming

the organization, was a vital aspect of my research.
an outstanding young scholar is not always a straightforward one.

PhD students go through different experiences and face many Resilience, rigor, and support were key factors that contributed to

barriers along the way. My father passed away toward the end of his success in both sport and academia. Dr. Rumbold has left his

the intervention study, which made PhD completion dificult. I had mark by producing a masterpiece on stress management. We can

to be patient and have conidence in myself. I appreciated the all draw lessons from it as stress is part of our life, and none of us

are immune to it. Like Dr. Rumbold, we can use stress in a skillful
community of people I had around me, including the PhD students

at Loughborough with whom I went through highs and lows. At one way to propel us forward, be outstanding, and make a difference.

stage during the PhD, the contact people within the organization I

was studying disappeared. I waited over a month and kept reaching

out until I inally got through to them. In the end, everything was

ine, but it was deinitely a barrier. What got me through it was my

resilient “never give up” attitude. Past experiences have shaped

who I am, and I have used both positive and negative experiences

to drive me forward.

AASP Newsletter // Winter 2015 // 2015 AASP Dissertation Award Recipient

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