Human Performance and Fitness Senior Laiken McAleer

Laiken graduates cum laude May 15, 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance and Fitness. Laiken will begin her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Program at Drake University this fall! She is from DeWitt, Iowa.

Tell us about some of the professional opportunities that have presented themselves while you've attended SAU. How will you use those now or in the future? I got the chance to work as an intern in the Cardiopulmonary Rehab Unit at Genesis East this past semester and have loved every minute of it! It has opened a lot of doors for me for my future endeavors and could possibly turn into a part-time job in the near future! I have also gotten a chance to do some observation hours shadowing OTs at different hospitals and clinics in the Quad Cities area, allowing me to gain experience for when I apply to graduate school.

What was a defining moment or very memorable experience you had as a student in the Department of Kinesiology? I really enjoyed having the opportunity to become a personal trainer for a semester for the Exercise Prescription and Program Design course. I had a great client and loved getting to know her and see her progression throughout the weeks.

What drew you initially to our department? Has that motivation changed over the course of the years you've been at SAU? I grew up being active and playing sports, so fitness was always a very interesting topic to me, and I always knew I wanted to continue learning more about fitness and nutrition. I also love learning about human anatomy and seeing all the amazing things our bodies are capable of doing. The Kinesiology Department covers all of these interest areas for me, so I was immediately drawn to it. Over the past few years, my love for this department and these classes has grown and I am so thankful I got to be a part of it!

What advice might you give to a prospective student considering the Dept. of Kinesiology at SAU? The professors are great and always willing to work with you if have any questions or concerns. There is also a variety of classes offered that cover a wide range of topics within the Kinesiology boundaries that are all very interesting.

What advice might you give to someone just starting the bulk of their required departmental coursework? Once you get into the departmental coursework, be sure to prioritize your time for each class. All these classes are equally important, and you will need to learn and remember that content for classes further down the road. Also make sure to utilize the open lab time or office hours with the professors. This will really help you if you have any questions or just need some extra practice with skills for the practicals/exams.

How did your affiliation with St. Ambrose help you in your job search or graduate school search? St. Ambrose has given me a lot of opportunities when searching for graduate schools. Early on I was able to make connections to the professors in the OT department here at Ambrose and they have been wonderful to work with. I also applied to Drake University because a former professor from Ambrose now works there and I was able to make that connection through Ambrose! Networking is a big part of searching for schools and jobs and Ambrose does a great job help-ing you make those connections!