Stories about the Class of 2026 | Kaitlyn Klassen, Bachelor of Physical Education.
When Kaitlyn Klassen first started her Bachelor of Physical Education degree, the campus felt like a very different place. It was 2021, and her entire first year of classes was fully online. While she was able to stay focused on her own, she quickly realized how much she was missing out on by not being around others. Moving to in-person classes changed everything and helped her truly feel part of the university.
“I think it has definitely forced me to get out of my shell,” Klassen says. “I learned that although I am self-motivated and can do well with online classes, having the in-person connection on campus really made the university experience more real and so much better. Long story short, my experience [in the faculty] really made me appreciate the importance of community and connections.”
For her, the best part of switching to in-person learning was the lively and friendly environment on campus.
“Being part of FKRM to me means being a part of an active, vibrant, and supportive community,” she explains. “[It was] easy to get to know the faculty and students around you, which is filled with great people."
"Most students that enter the faculty have a passion for sport in some capacity, so there is that immediate connection with the people around you," she says. "I have met a lot of great people along the way, and that support when working towards a degree is crucial!”
“With a few of my classes taking place in the gym, it created an environment that was easy to connect with my classmates."
That supportive environment turned out to be exactly what Klassen needed when she stepped outside her comfort zone in the PHED 3732: Dance and Rhythmic Activities. The class became one of her most memorable experiences because it opened her eyes to a whole new way of moving.
Prior to taking this class, she never considered herself a dancer, nor did she think she could dance. However, stepping onto the floor gave her the opportunity to feel free and try activities well outside of her usual shell.
“Honestly, it was way out of my comfort zone," she says. "The course did a great job of teaching us more about dance and actually taking part as well. We had a final showcase where we had to perform a dance we choreographed as a group. The environment was so fun and so supportive. Everybody just did their best and it was such a fun experience."
The connections Klassen made are ones she will continue to remember forever. Looking back at her time before graduation, she realizes that the tight-knit culture of the faculty is what kept her grounded and helped her succeed on such a large university campus.
“I feel like a broken record, but the community around the faculty definitely had the greatest impact on me during my studies,” she says. “Simply knowing the people around me made a great impact. With the university being such a big campus, it was great to be in a faculty where you feel known and have connections with others.”
In the fall, Klassen will be studying in the Faculty of Education where she plans to work towards her goal of being teaching elementary school Phys Ed.
“I am working towards being a physical educator for elementary age in the future. I am excited to see what the future holds and am grateful for the experience and all I have learned from my time in FKRM.”
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