David Christmas

I am currently in the second year of a FdSc horticulture course at Nottingham Trent University. I chose my horticultural course as I have always been a practical person and liked doing things outdoors as a child. I remember I always loved helping my parents in the garden as well as going for walks in the countryside.

I would describe myself as a unique person as I have ADHD. ADHD can have a more positive effects than many people think as it gives me a different perspective on situations. When working on group projects, I often find myself taking a creative role; suggesting new ideas and ways of doing things.

I enjoy all aspects of my course but if I had to choose a favourite module it would have to be Greenspace management. I am interested in the benefits that access to Greenspaces can have and how parks and gardens can be used to improve the lives of people in urban areas.

One of my most notable horticultural related accomplishments is the Profit from a Pony project I took part in during the 2nd year of my course. This project involved starting a running a micro- business making and selling Christmas wreaths as part of a team in order to raise money for a local charity. This project was very successful and our group was able to raise £1114 for the charity. My personal qualities contributed to the success of this project, as I am a good team worker. I was able to work well as part of the team and communicate well with others during this project.

Next year I plan to complete the 3rd year of my course, after which I will be looking for a job in the horticultural industry. At the moment I am open many potential career options, however I feel that due to my interest in Greenspace management, I might be interested in a job involving the management of parks and gardens.

When I am not studying, you will often find me out skateboarding. I find skateboarding is an excellent way to make friends and keep fit. Skateboarding has also taught me some valuable life lessons. Learning a new trick can be hard at first, but if you keep trying long enough you will eventually be able to do it. This has shown me that no matter how hard something seems, if you preserve for long enough pretty much anything becomes possible eventually.