Life as a Holman Student-Athlete in Epsom School’s Sports Academies
28 May 2025
Spotlight
In the competitive world of sports, young athletes often face the challenge of balancing their passion for sport with their academic life. Epsom has developed several sports academies and offers a unique environment where students are able to excel in both areas. Holman is home to around 15 athletes, and the school felt it would be a good idea to offer them the opportunity to share insights into their life at Epsom. Recently, Epsom spoke with Ullen and Jing Him, two Year 9 football players, as well as Tashi, a Year 7 tennis player, to gain a better understanding of their day-to-day experiences as student-athletes.
Why did you come to Epsom College Malaysia?
Ullen (Football Player):
“I came to Epsom because, in my home country, it’s difficult to combine studies and my passion for football. My parents wanted me to learn in English too. Epsom seemed like a good opportunity.”
Can you tell us about your typical day at school?
Jing H. (Football Player)
“My day starts at 6:30 AM. I wake up, wear my uniform and have breakfast. From 8 AM to 4 PM, we have a normal school day. While other students enjoy sports, CCAs (Co-Curricular Activities) at 4.15, we have to do our homework supervised by teachers. At 5:30 PM and until around 7:15 PM, we have our football training. Then we eat and go back to the house.”
What are the challenges of being an academy student and the differences with being a normal student?
Ullen (Football Player)
“Sometimes it’s a bit hard to socialise with the other students as much as we would like to because we don’t have the same schedule. Also, we have to make sure we are doing well academically, which pushes us to learn more.”
What are the great things about this situation?
Jing Him (Football Player)
“I think it’s a school of opportunity. We get to develop a lot during our time here, and we also participate in a lot of friendly games and tournaments, which expose us to other student levels, and I think it’s beneficial to us for achieving our goals.”
You do a lot of sports throughout the week and often on the weekend. Aren’t you tired sometimes?
Ullen: “I have a lot of passion for my sport, so I don’t feel tired much, but I think other people might feel exhausted at times and suffer from muscle soreness.”
Taishi: “I never feel tired because I like it so much, but sometimes it feels a bit tiring to learn in English!”
How are the coaches?
Ullen and Taishi: “The coaches are fantastic. They help us with our sport but also with other struggles we encounter at school. They help to overcome problems and struggles. Training and explanations are clear and direct.”
The experiences of Ullen, Jing Him, and Taishi highlight the unique challenges and rewards of being student-athletes at Epsom. Balancing rigorous academic demands with intense sports training requires dedication, passion, and resilience. Their stories highlight the importance of supportive coaches, a nurturing environment, and the opportunities provided by the school to help them achieve their goals.
As these young athletes continue to navigate their dual roles, Epsom wishes them the very best in balancing their lives and achieving great success in both their academic and sporting pursuits.
Mr Laurent Larburu
Holman Housemaster