Hitting the mark at Harvard

With his final graduation date looming and a burning desire to get to the top of his field, Mike Stevenson took a scatter gun approach and fired his CV off to elite educational institutions around the world looking for an internship.

Of the 60 he contacted, 20 responded, 15 with genuine offers.

However, just one hit the mark for him - Harvard University.

"Experience is everything, and Harvard really has that prestige factor."

He did not know anyone who had been offered an internship at a university overseas, but knew he had "nothing to lose" when he decided to "hit them up" for a position.

"I've just gone out and put myself right out there to look for any opportunities that arise."

Harvard was impressed by his determined nature and work ethic, he said.

Come January 20, he will be winging his way to Boston to provide strength and conditioning coaching to the Harvard American football and track teams.

"I don't know much about the NFL, but have been watching a lot of YouTube and researching rules in preparation," said Mr Stevenson, who has a bachelor of physical education degree and a postgraduate diploma in physical conditioning from Otago Polytechnic.

The unpaid role will largely involve designing and running training programmes and working with injury rehabilitation and prevention, alongside coaches and other staff.

An experienced rugby coach, he will also work with and play for the Boston rugby team, which has set him up with accommodation and part-time work.

Mr Stevenson will spend from now until he leaves, working on his parents' farm in Te Anau to save money for the trip.

To others who want to follow in his footsteps, he simply said: "Don't hold back."

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz