Convocation Profile: A chat with Shilah Anderton

What brought you to the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation (KSR) at the University of Alberta?

Throughout my childhood I was heavily involved in team sports. During high school, I developed an interest in Kinesiology as the sports medicine program my school offered had me working alongside athletes who were rehabilitating injuries. Shortly thereafter, I began my studies at MacEwan University in the Physical Education Transfer program. Ultimately, I decided to continue my studies and pursue a Bachelor in Kinesiology at the University of Alberta because I wanted to stay close to my spouse and kids while also obtaining a degree from a highly reputable university.

What was your favourite class and why?

One of my favorite classes was KIN207 – Physical Growth and Psychomotor Development with Kelvin Jones. I loved this class because the professor created an excellent learning atmosphere which made the course exciting, interesting and relevant to real-world situations.

What was key to your academic success?

The key to my academic success was never giving up on myself, always trying again when I failed and asking for help when I needed it. Managing time can become exceedingly difficult when you are trying to balance university, part-time jobs, volunteering, family, and a social life. It can also be difficult to ask for help, but it is so important in preventing burnout. I was lucky to have had some excellent professors throughout the years who took pride in their teachings and cared about student success. I am also very grateful to have had the support of my spouse in my academics. He picked up my slack at home and pushed me to do my best each day. My parents and step-parents were also very supportive and helped me even when I didn’t ask.

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced as a student, how did you overcome these challenges and how have those challenges shaped the person you are today?

Some of the greatest challenges I faced as a student were constantly being challenged to step out of my comfort zone and learning to balance a never-ending list of things to do. Some of the greatest lessons learned in university are about yourself. By stepping out of my comfort zone I learned my strengths, my limitations, and how to manage and respond to stress. Ultimately, the challenges I faced taught me how to be resilient and overcome adversity.

If you completed a practicum, where did you do your practicum and what did your role entail?

I completed my practicum with Play Around the World. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I spent 3 months in Thailand completing a service-learning program where we worked with children and organizations that promote and facilitate the child’s right to play. I honestly cannot put into words how incredibly life-changing my experiences abroad were. My role within my team was ever-changing but was largely focused on facilitating play, being a supportive teammate and taking the lead on specific projects. There was not one day that was the same and there were new challenges each day.        

You and your graduating classmates are experiencing Convocation like no other students have before you. What are some thoughts and/or feelings you have about convocating during a pandemic?

To be honest, it is sad not to be able to spend convocation with my classmates and have a graduation ceremony. I did not always plan on going to the graduation, but as soon the option to attend was no longer available, I realized how much I will miss it.

What are you most proud of in your journey as a U of A/KSR student?

I am most proud of becoming a leader for Play Around the World with the Thailand 2020 team. It was something I never knew I was able to achieve. When I handed in my application, I did not think I would be selected. When I got to the interview process, I thought I would just use it as a learning experience. I am so proud of myself for having the courage to send in the application. I genuinely enjoyed my time as a leader and learned valuable skills that will follow me into the future. Unfortunately, this experience was cut short by the pandemic, but I hope to have the opportunity to lead a team again when we are able to travel.

As you get ready to convocate, what career plans do you have for the future?

I recently started my career as a Case Manager in Disability Management and Return to Work services. Disability management is close to my heart as my spouse experienced workplace injury while in combat overseas with the military. I find working with individuals who experience impairment whether short-term, long-term, or permanently to be rewarding and fulfilling.