Rachelle Davies spent some time abroad during her MSc assisting with research in the Sport Medicine Group at the University of Innsbruck in Austria
For the second time in her University of Alberta journey, Rachelle Davies is walking across the convocation stage donning the blue and gold colours of the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Originally starting her undergraduate degree with the Faculty of Science, the St. Albert product transferred to the Bachelor of Kinesiology (BKin) program early on thanks to some serious self-reflection.
"I was unsure about the educational path I had chosen, so I asked myself, 'What do I enjoy doing?' Having grown up playing many different sports and feeling fulfillment from being physically active, I realized that the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation was where I should have been from the beginning."
Rachelle's fascination with human physiology and the course options in the BKin program were the perfect fit for her interests, and she excelled throughout her four years of undergraduate study. She concluded her BKin degree by taking a research practicum placement in associate professor Michael Kennedy's lab. Inspired by the positive experience of her practicum, Rachelle decided to take the next steps in her educational journey and continued on with Kennedy as a Master's of Science student.
Focusing on the athlete health domain as her research interest, Rachelle was able to take advantage of an incredible opportunity to travel abroad to the University of Innsbruck in Austria to assist with research in the Sport Medicine group-an opportunity that she notes was made possible by a supportive environment.
"I feel very grateful that the university and Faculty facilitated this experience during my program. I am so fortunate to have had a graduate supervisor like Michael who not only sought out these kinds of opportunities to help me grow as a researcher and professional, but who has always looked out for my and other students' well-being. This is truly representative of the kind of faculty that is Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation."
Having walked across the convocation stage on June 6th, Rachelle now looks toward the future. Wanting to continue on the path of her life-long interests, the MSc graduate hopes to grow her career in the ever-evolving health and sport-related field. This may incorporate pursuing a PhD, but perhaps a little further down the road.
"After eight straight years of post-secondary, I am definitely ready to take a break from being a student!"
Wherever Rachelle takes her career, she will carry on the fabric of being a Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation student.
"I have always enjoyed the combination of work and play in the Faculty, and I think that's why this program attracts so many like-minded students. More importantly, I value how open and welcoming people are in KSR. The professors got to know you on a first-name basis, and I met some of my best friends here because of the smaller class sizes and overall camaraderie of the Faculty. The environment, the mentorship and the friendships created made my time at UAlberta so significant."