From a psychological perspective, Kate Burley boasts the right credentials to conduct a post-season analysis for her netball team.
The Southern Steel defender graduates today from the University of Auckland with a bachelor of science, double majoring in physiology and psychology.
"I’m really excited because it feels like a long time coming, so to have that true sense of completion will be great," Burley said.
"It definitely has been challenging juggling study and sport.
"Like any athlete studying, I’ve had my times where it gets really hard and you question why you do it.
"But it is so worth it and I’m proud of myself that I was able to balance both and not give up."
The demands of competing in the ANZ Premiership are intense, but Burley embraced the balance studying provided.
"I knew I had to do something for me outside of netball and set myself up for life after sport.
"It’s so easy for netball not to go your way. If you’re losing all the time or you don’t get selected for something, it can be really hard when your identity is wrapped up in that.
"It was always good to have something else to focus on. I love netball and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to do this as my job, but if worse comes to worst, I know I am more than a netball player."
Adding psychology to her degree enabled Burley to pursue a passion.
"I do find it really interesting and I love learning about the brain and just how it works.
"Everyone you meet will tell you I’m a chronic over-thinker, so I don’t know if it has come in handy or made me think even more deeply into everything that I do."
She will be able to putthat degree to good use this weekend, with the Steel facing a double-header on the road against the Northern Mystics (tomorrow) and the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic (Monday).
