Student athlete and new Faculty of Science graduate Karsten Sturmay, member of the Spring 2020 graduating class. Image courtesy of Karsten Sturmay.
As the University of Alberta prepares to celebrate our first-ever virtual convocation on June 12, the Faculty of Science is featuring some of the stories of our amazing graduates of the class of Spring 2020.
Today, meet Karsten Sturmay, graduating from the BSc Specialization program in the Department of Chemistry and skip for the Golden Bears Curling Team. Hear from Sturmay as he reflects on making the most of both academics and athletics, the challenges and fulfillment that have come from both, and on representing Team Canada at the 2019 International University Sports Federation Winter Universiade.
What led you to pick the University of Alberta for your studies?
Even going back to my junior high or high school days, UAlberta always seemed like the best choice for my post-secondary education. Beyond having a proven track record as one of Canada’s best universities, the green and gold tradition runs in my family with both my father and older sister being alumni. The opportunity to be a part of the Golden Bears Curling Team was also a huge factor, considering UAlberta’s varsity curling program is widely recognized to be the best in Canada. Heading into my first year, I was confident my time at UAlberta would enable me to grow and develop my skills as an academic, athlete, and person. Reflecting back, I can say that it has most certainly lived up to those expectations.
Tell us about your experience in the Faculty of Science.
My experience as a Faculty of Science student has played a massive role in the direction my life is heading today. As a first-year student starting university, I was admittedly rather uncertain about what areas of study I was actually passionate about and generally overwhelmed with balancing the demands of being a competitive athlete alongside my schooling. The courses I took in the Faculty of Science not only allowed me to discover a passion for chemistry but taught me important life skills like time management, diligent work habits, and the ability to collaborate with others effectively.
The Faculty of Science challenged me to work and study smarter, to be both analytic and innovative, and to never settle for anything but the best. By rising to these challenges, I gained a new level of confidence in myself and my abilities. The people I met during my time in the Faculty of Science have also left a lasting impact on me. I have had the privilege of being able to make friends with some absolutely brilliant and supportive classmates that made going to class and studying not only easier, but infinitely more enjoyable.
Finally, words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am for the support and compassion my professors and advisors showed me time and again. Without exception, at some point during a given semester, I would show up at my professor or lab coordinator’s office explaining that I would have to miss this midterm, or that assignment, or these labs because I would be away competing with the varsity team. As a result, I got to know a lot of my academic mentors on a first-name basis and vice-versa. The depth of the passion they showed not only for their work, but also for helping their students succeed continues to inspire me, and I am so thankful they were willing to go out of their way to support me in both my academic and athletic pursuits.
What is one of your favourite memories from your time at UAlberta?
Imagine you’re in a dark hallway, clustered together with about 120 of your peers. Despite the cold weather, you’re literally sweating with anticipation. You can feel the collective excitement of everyone around you buzzing in the air, and yet cannot fully comprehend what’s about to happen. The gates in front of you open, light floods your eyes, and you step forward into a massive arena with the rest of the Team Canada delegation behind you. The national anthem starts playing as you take your first few steps, the words of “Oh Canada” mingling with the cheers of thousands of fans in the crowd watching. Chills run down your spine and tears spring into your eyes as you look around at your teammates and all of the other Canadian athletes walking with you, everyone decked out in matching red, white, and black gear. You make your triumphant lap around the arena as one, united together by an indescribable sense of pride that you are Team Canada.
I was fortunate enough to experience this during the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Winter Universiade held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia last March. My varsity curling team had won the national university curling championships the previous year, earning ourselves the right to compete at the world university games. Never before have I been so proud to call myself a Canadian, or a Golden Bear, than in that moment. The gravity of knowing that I represented not only myself, but my family, friends, university, and country fully hit me. That pride motivated me to perform to the best of my abilities over the next two weeks and played a big role in why I was able to bring back a silver medal for my country. Stepping out into that arena for the march of nations with the rest of the Team Canada delegation is a memory I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life. This moment would not have been possible if I didn’t make the decision to become a University of Alberta student and a proud Golden Bear.
"Stepping out into that arena for the march of nations with the rest of the Team Canada delegation is a memory I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life. This moment would not have been possible if I didn’t make the decision to become a University of Alberta student and a proud Golden Bear."
What advice do you have for current and future students at the Faculty of Science?
Immerse yourself in extra-curricular activities to enrich your university experience. It’s too easy to become fully focused on “just getting the degree,” to lose yourself in the motions of going back and forth between class, your home, and studying alone in a corner of a library or at your house. Even though making that initial jump can be intimidating, I encourage you to join that study group your classmate was talking about, to sign up for intramural sports, to go to that social night hosted by your department.
University is a time for learning, but it is also a time for self-discovery. I encourage you to balance your academic pursuits with other things you are passionate about and to seek out like-minded people who will challenge you, support you, and laugh with you. The time you spend at university becomes a lot more meaningful, and fun, when you do so.
How have you spent your time during COVID-19 distancing?
I’ve been trying to live my best life from a social distance, haha. My sister and her boyfriend live with me as roommates, so I’m fortunate to not be completely isolated and have them as my cohort family. Since school ended, I have been working on a few small projects, planning for next year, applying for a couple scholarships, and doing a bit of informal professional development online training.
I also do some part-time work for a local non-profit organization called KidSport Alberta, managing their social media accounts and offering resource development support, so that’s been occupying a bit of my time. Besides the previously mentioned stuff, I have become especially talented at losing to my roommates when we play cards, Monopoly, or Mario Party video games.
"The past few years have been an especially significant period in my life, and I am honored to be able to share and commemorate our accomplishments with my fellow graduates on June 12. I have the utmost faith in our ability to surmount the challenges that the current global situation may present as we move onto the next stage of our lives. With the skills, confidence, ambition, and perseverance that has been cultivated in us during our time at UAlberta, alongside the compassion and sense of community that has drawn us together in a time of crisis, I believe the potential for the graduating class of 2020 to be limitless."
How do you plan on celebrating convocation?
In a certain respect, it feels a bit surreal to be graduating considering the shift to online classes, the inability to participate in a traditional convocation ceremony, and social distancing restrictions in general. However, I am very much looking forward to the alternative celebrations being planned by both the Faculty of Science and UAlberta.
The past few years have been an especially significant period in my life, and I am honored to be able to share and commemorate our accomplishments with my fellow graduates on June 12. I have the utmost faith in our ability to surmount the challenges that the current global situation may present as we move onto the next stage of our lives. With the skills, confidence, ambition, and perseverance that has been cultivated in us during our time at UAlberta, alongside the compassion and sense of community that has drawn us together in a time of crisis, I believe the potential for the graduating class of 2020 to be limitless.
What's next after graduation?
More school! Deciding to pursue a bachelor of commerce after-degree here at UAlberta after completing my BSc was a difficult choice, but one that I am greatly looking forward to.
Over the past few years, through a combination of academic exercises I have engaged in throughout my studies, volunteer activities, and work experiences, I have gained a greater appreciation for my ability to communicate and developed a passion for writing and presenting. Drawing upon the critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills that the Faculty of Science has helped cultivate in me, I intend to pursue a marketing degree to better understand how analytic thought and creativity can be combined to produce a desired impact.
A big factor in my decision to go back to school was my employment as a sport marketing assistant last summer with KidSport Alberta. The time I spent with this wonderful organization allowed me to connect my passions for sport and social impact with the day-to-day internal workings of a non-profit. Furthermore, my employment gave me the opportunity to advocate for and promote an organization that enables more than 14,000 kids each year to participate in a season of sport they would otherwise be unable to. As such, I am very excited to pursue a business after-degree with a marketing major and use these next two years to further cultivate and grow my communication skills, all with the end goal of hopefully being able to apply them in a business setting where social impact is a top priority.