National Careers Week: Sophie Fadaely

This National Careers Week, Squash Australia is continuing to highlight the dedication of our athletes, past and present, in pursuing career aspirations both on and off the court. 

For Sophie Fadaely, a last minute university choice was probably one of the best decisions she could make for her sport and her academic endeavours.

Out to prove to herself that she can do challenging things in a male-dominated field, Fadaely is currently undertaking a degree in Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ).

Fadaely maintains that the exchange and squash initiatives at UQ offer the finest opportunities outside of traditional academics.

“UQ had much better connections to go to universities overseas on exchange that had good squash programs, so really that was the deciding factor in going to UQ,” she said.

Fadaely spent six months travelling before starting her studies, focusing on improving her professional rank to qualify for a broader range of domestic competitions.

As she nears the end of her final year, she is still unsure how she manages to balance her studies and sports.

“I think one of the key things I did to balance all aspects of my life was having good time management,” she said.

“Having my priorities clear was very crucial for me. It is important to be realistic and also realise that at certain times of the year, you can have different priorities.”

The rising squash talent remained focused on keeping a strong GPA, though becoming the top student in every subject was not her primary goal. Balancing the rigorous requirements of an engineering degree with her commitment to squash often proved to be a challenging endeavor.

“It can often be tough to balance,” she said. “I find in Australia, the exam period falls right when the peak tournament season is.”

By rescheduling her exams, she is able to focus on one priority at a time, maintaining a healthier balance.

“This feeling is temporary. You can only do your best, and to be proud of yourself and kind to yourself is so important - no matter what.” 

Fadaely appreciates the synergy she has achieved by pairing her studies with a full-time squash career, noting that she has received consistent support throughout her time at UQ.

“UQ have always been generous in giving extensions and deferrals, when necessary, due to sporting commitments,” she said.

The university's financial support through sports scholarships has also been vital, easing financial pressures and allowing her to concentrate on her dual goals.

“UQ also gave me the opportunity to do two incredible years of exchange in the UK at the University of Birmingham.”

This opportunity allowed her to advance her education while training full-time abroad - an experience that would not have been possible without UQ's support.

“These two years were honestly game changing for my squash, and allowed me to train day-in day-out with top level females.

“I didn’t have the ability to do it in Australia, and play professional events in Europe,” she said.

When asked for advice for aspiring athletes balancing academics and sport, Fadaely emphasises the importance of clear priorities.

While training remained a top priority, she ensured she was present for essential university events when they occurred.

“For me, squash was always number one, and study came second,” she said.

“I think no matter whether your top priority is squash or uni or work, you need to be clear in your mind about it.”