An exploration into the dual career experiences of the TuksSport High School learner-athlete

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to explore the dual career experiences of the TuksSport High School learner-athlete. Adolescent learner-athletes who had all transitioned from disadvantaged communities into the TuksSport High School and TuksSport High School Athletics Academy. This was accomplished through a case study research design which incorporated the use of collages alongside unstructured interviews. Each research participant was required to create collages, which represented their experiences as learner-athletes at the TuksSport High School. Once the collage making process was complete, each participant was interviewed individually, with the focus of the interview set on their completed collages. The researcher transcribed the unstructured interviews and then analysed them using thematic analysis. Through this process it was uncovered that the research participants had experienced significant challenges and opportunities at the TuksSport High School. The findings of this research study indicate that the participants had experiences that corroborated with, differed to or were unique to existing research that has been conducted.