If you ask a Kinesiology student what they will do post-graduation, most would tell you they want to work in physiotherapy, become a teacher or enter the health care profession as a doctor or nurse.
How do I know this? Until about a month ago I was one of them!
While there is nothing wrong with these options, I’d like to encourage my friends and fellow students to keep their options open and broaden their horizons. It is so important that we take advantage of our situation – we have virtually limitless resources to investigate and discover career opportunities. Go ahead, as our friends at Nike say and, ‘Just Do It.’
I have always been interested in health and fitness but I’ve never considered what a full-time career in the industry would be like. As I entered my senior year this year, I was leaning toward becoming a naturopathic doctor – so what if it’s another four years of school.
Until recently I had never considered working with the baby-boomer and older population; they are almost considered competition in many kinesiology-based professions. “I can’t wait until teachers retire so there are more job opportunities…”
During the fall semester I needed half an activity course and, as it happened, my schedule had room for only one class, Exercise for Special Populations. My enthusiasm was low – honestly I thought I’d be incredibly bored.
But it’s funny how life works. I now realize it’s probably the most practical class I will take in four years at Western. We’re learning how to tailor exercise to special populations – pregnant women, young kids and older adults – and in each section we have an assignment.
In the older adults section we were to go to the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) – a Western research centre near campus — and do a fitness class with adults 55+. Being a life-long fitness nut, I figured this would be a walk in the park. Well, was I in for a big surprise.
This class, tailored for seniors, was harder than any class I’ve attended at Campus Recreation. I was shocked. But what impressed me beyond the training itself was the feeling of family and community as soon as you entered the gymnasium. Attending these classes is the highlight of the day for many participants.
This experience has caused a light bulb to turn on in my head. For the first time, I am excited about life after graduation. I haven’t finalized specific details but I would love to work with this group in this type of setting.
Working with the 55+ population is becoming a booming industry. I’ve just read every seven seconds someone turns 50. I also really enjoyed the experience. The adults I worked with were all eager to learn how to perform exercises properly.
I recently started developing business models and then took a step that terrifies most students; I asked a stranger for help. I met with the CCAA’s program director, Clara Fitzgerald, to talk about the centre and its programs. I gathered as much information as I could and now feel my journey to ‘what’s next’ has begun in earnest.
Not everyone will be as excited as I am about working with older adults, but that’s not really my point. What I want to get across is that it’s really important to keep your eyes, ears, mind and, as a result, options open here at Western. Last month if you’d told me I would be starting to plan a business centred around people over 55, I probably would have questioned your judgement. Now I can’t wait to learn as much as possible about this group – and all because of a class I was initially unenthused about taking.
So, fellow students, step outside the box and explore your options. If you’re like me your four years will fly by and there is no better moment than right now to plan your future. If that involves a career as a physiotherapist or MD, that’s awesome. But don’t be afraid to check out new possibilities that may have greater potential for you personally.
You might be pleasantly surprised, like I was, exercising beside a man in his 70s and having him zoom by me.
Life is all about options. Create yours now.
The writer is an honours Kinesiology student.