Written by Tully White
My name is Tully White, I am a 24-year-old Environmental Science student at Charles Sturt from Gaymaygal Country on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Now in my final year of study, I am so grateful for the flexibility Charles Sturt has given me, as I have completed my degree while travelling the world as a surfer on the WSL Longboard Tour.
I have known that I wanted to do Environmental Science since I was 14, when I met an environmental activist who inspired me to open my eyes towards stewardship of our oceans and our responsibility to give back to the places, we get so much joy from.
I could see an opportunity to become an advocate for our coastlines and knew that a degree in the field would help amplify my voice.
While studying over the past few years I have found this voice as an ambassador for Surfers for Climate, a not-for-profit which aims to empower surfers to use their voice for positive action on climate.
We have recently had a big win, gaining bipartisan support to draw a line in the sand on new oil and gas projects in NSW waters, which was special to be part of.
After finishing school in 2017, I started to realise that going to university and pursuing a career in professional surfing was tougher than I assumed it would be.
While I secured a place at a Sydney-based university to study, I deferred my place twice, with managing attendance and travelling the world to compete proving incompatible.
Following some desperate researching I found Charles Sturt University and read up on the Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management degree and applied right away.
That was back in June 2019, less than 1 month before our tour started and I travelled to Galicia in Spain, New York and Taiwan in my first semester alone.
I was really stoked to have finally found a balance and get my degree underway.
In Longboarding, I have been the top ranked Australian woman on the Longboard tour for the past few years with some memorable finishes including a 3rd in Taiwan at the World Titles in 2019 and a 3rd at my home beach in Manly.
I have also represented Australia at the ISA World titles and was part of the Australian team this year that came 6th overall out of 39 countries.
While the joys of hunting down decent WIFI while overseas is always a challenge, balancing surfing and study has fostered some character-building moments along the way.
This includes a research project on plastic pollution on LA beaches while living out of a van between events in California, and spending a refreshing couple of weeks inland on the Mallee field trip straight after a difficult event over in Europe, which offered a welcome change of perspective.
As I get ready to travel to my first tour event of the year while starting the last subject of my degree next week, I remain grateful for the support of Charles Sturt University along this journey.
I am excited to see what other student athletes will accomplish while at Charles Sturt and stoked to see these achievements recognised in the 2024 Sports and Blues Awards, of which the nominations are now open for!
To find out more information or nominate, click here.
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