Discover a Passion
Mallory White had no trouble finding the perfect fit at university. UBC’s Kinesiology program allowed her to combine her love of physical activity with her desire to work with people. That made for an amazing undergraduate experience — but the program has changed her life in other ways.
“It has influenced how I lead my life on a day-to-day basis with regards to being physically active. I have always played sports, but after having spent years learning about the benefits of physical activity, my love for being active has grown even more. It has also shaped where I am now. I’m on my way to becoming a physiotherapist which was completely due to the fact that I had such a great experience during my undergrad.”
Beyond an Education
In her second year she volunteered with UBC REC (sports and recreation), which provided her with a community on campus, allowed her to meet some of her best friends, and taught her skills that she used in many other aspects of her life. In third year she took a Kinesiology internship at a cardiac rehabilitation clinic. This was her first opportunity try hands-on learning. “Because of this eye-opening experience,” she says, “I knew that I wanted to work with people in a healthcare setting for my career.”
Mallory broadened her academic horizons by taking a minor in French from the Faculty of Arts. In her fourth year, she participated in UBC’s Go Global Program and spent a semester at L’Université de Lausanne in Switzerland where she completed her French minor.
“This out of classroom experience was without a doubt one of the most amazing experiences of my life. When studying in another country, not only do you get to meet new people, have great travel experiences, and learn another language, you also have the opportunity to be fully immersed in a new culture. This is very different than simply traveling or visiting a country as a tourist, as you actually get to experience the everyday life of the people living there, which is incredibly rewarding.”
What Lies Ahead
In the final year of her undergraduate degree, she was one of the athletic trainers for the UBC Varsity Rugby team. “This is another one of the many opportunities that the School of Kinesiology offers to its students for hands-on learning. Although UBC offers an excellent level of academic studies, these out-of-the-classroom experiences are what made my degree and time at UBC so memorable.”
Mallory White is now doing doing her masters in Physical Therapy at UBC and plans on being a physiotherapist.
