First-year Marketing Management student Richard Petrus has big dreams.

“I’ve always wanted to be a sales representative. I like the challenge,” he says. “I just have entry-level experience right now, but I want to do big business, selling to big corporations or even countries.”

Originally from Namibia, South Africa, Richard moved to Canada in 2011 when his mother, who was already here, told him about the opportunities he could take advantage of to complete his education.

“Marketing and communications are the two things that interest me the most,” he says. “My favourite class at Douglas is Personal Selling. We get to be creative and give lots of presentations.”

Moving to British Columbia presented some challenges for Richard. “I wasn’t used to the weather, I got lost a lot – my country is very small – and I didn’t know anyone,” he says. He managed to fix the last two with one smart move.

“I joined the Vancouver United soccer club,” he says. “I love soccer. It helped me make friends and get to know this place because we travel all around.”

One of his biggest dreams is to somehow combine soccer and sales.

“It would be great to work for the Vancouver Whitecaps in some way!”