Named “man of the match” after the 2014 Intrust Super Cup and hailed by the Jets Chairman, Steve Johnson, for his incredible 2018 Super Cup seasons, Sebastian Pandia is a true testament of sportsmanship and tenacity.

In 2018, Sebastian commenced a Bachelor of Business Management with us at JCU Brisbane. After a couple of years of study, Sebastian graduated in 2020. We caught up with him recently to ask about his time at James Cook University Brisbane and how being a professional athlete helped with his study.

Join us as we uncover the journey and achievements of this JCU Brisbane alum in our exclusive alumni spotlight Q&A.

What were some of your happiest memories at JCU Brisbane?

My happiest moments from my time at JCU Brisbane are spent participating in class projects with instructors and fellow students, building relationships, appreciating the diversity of our backgrounds, and working together to successfully understand the material.

In what ways did your rugby league background and study at JCU Brisbane benefit each other?

My rugby league background has given me the foundation to get a good read on people and how to best approach them when starting up a conversation. Playing rugby league and studying business management has taught me about human interaction, behaviour, and psychology in organisational or team settings.

Additionally, my experience and JCU Brisbane courses helped me understand my role in contributing to an organisation and prepared me for my part-time job at a construction site.

What acquired skills from your rugby league experience did you apply during your study at JCU Brisbane?

The skills I gained from rugby league, like independence, goal-setting, focus, routine, communication, resourcefulness, accountability, and confidence, helped me succeed in my studies at JCU Brisbane despite setbacks and doubts.

Can you reflect on your journey at JCUB and share any challenges you encountered along the way?

All my lectures at JCU Brisbane were great and it is good that some lecturers have industry experience in various fields that made it helpful to seek guidance from them every now and then. Because our classes and campus were so small, it made it so easy to have one-on-one help.

As a self-sponsored student, Sebastian struggled in comparison with his peers with student loans and financial support from their family. With his earnings from rugby league matches as well as working part-time as a construction labourer, Sebastian worked long hours, even over holiday breaks, to cover his upcoming tuition fees and living expenses. In 2017, the loss of his late children cast a shadow of doubt as to whether he wanted to further his studies upon the completion of his TAFE course. With the support of his coaches and loved ones, Sebastian decided to pursue study at JCUB after securing a partial scholarship.

From an ACL injury forcing him to return home to Papua New Guinea to the uncertainty of COVID-19 in 2020, Seb says; “I used all the help resources available at JCU Brisbane and instead of feeling isolated from the world, I attended all my online classes and spent a lot of time after classes speaking to my lecturers, utilising their time and knowledge.

We like to extend our gratitude to Sebastian for sharing his insightful perspectives and experiences with us – giving us a glimpse into the dynamic intersection of Academic and athletics in his journey.

It is through Sebastian’s reflections that we are reminded of the invaluable lessons learned both on and off the field, highlighting the holistic growth fostered by a university experience. May his story inspire others to pursue excellence in all aspects of life with unwavering dedication and resilience.

Thank you once again, Sebastian Pandia, for this enlightening conversation.