Holly Henderson

Student: Holly Henderson
Year: 3rd
Degree program: Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Why did you decide to study at the University of Alberta?

Living in Edmonton, studying at the U of A just made sense. It is a well recognized university and had the programs I was looking for. At the time I was going into Business and wanted to minor in East Asian Studies, so I also specifically chose the U of A because it offered Korean classes. Although my journey has changed over time, I'm still very happy I decided to come here!

Why did you choose the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation for your undergraduate degree?

I was originally planning to enter Business, but the truth was I was very stressed out and unhappy with many of my courses leading up to my second year of university. Although I thought about entering the BARST program, I didn't have the guts to switch my faculty. After attempting to take my life on campus I ended up in the hospital for a month, which meant my semester was already down the drain. Although it was a bad experience, I had the time to step back and really reflect on my life and what I wanted to do. I realized how much I was interested in tourism and the leisure sector, so I transferred into the faculty and have been here ever since! It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?

At the time I was definitely the aspect of tourism that intrigued me. I was also attracted by how there still was that element of business in the faculty (such as marketing, finance, management, etc. courses), however they were centered around things I am interested in! At first I was thinking I would just do marketing for a tourism agency when I graduate, or something of the sorts, but I've learned so much now I'm not sure which direction I will take!

What advice do you have for new undergraduate students?

My biggest advice is to take your time and to listen to yourself. If you need to drop a class, switch majors, change your faculty, take time off... do it. Doing what is right for you is so important to one's health and happiness. As cliché as it sounds, it turns out that listening to yourself and to your heart actually pays off in the long run.

 

Why did you want to choose the photos above? 

I choose this photo because it was taken during the Christmas break before I entered the faculty. I was accepted into the BARST program, feeling better, and had my life back on track. I was able to really smile again!