Looking back on four years

Lindsay Eberlin may be graduating during a worldwide pandemic, but it hasn’t stopped her from reflecting on the good things that came from her experience as a Therapeutic Recreation student and what she wants to do with her life.

“My time at Waterloo was more than I had imagined,” she says. “It was filled with many opportunities and memorable experiences that allowed for personal growth and accomplishment.”

Eberlin says the hands-on experiences her program provided developed her confidence and skills in her field.

“As a component of one of my classes in first-year, we went on an overnight trip to an outdoor education centre where we participated in programming and then evaluated it in class. This experience was a great way to meet other students in my program and it helped me to adjust to university.”

Then in fourth-year, Lindsay completed an internship at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, which she calls the highlight of her program.

“I experienced first-hand the benefits of engagement in recreation activities for children in a hospital environment.”

Next fall, Eberlin will start at the University of Toronto on a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and eventually, she wants to work with children and have a positive impact on their lives.

Eberlin says that while graduation signifies the end of a chapter, “it reminds me of the important lessons I learned and the skills I developed when faced with adversity.”

Keeping a full schedule outside the classroom

During Eberlin’s time at Waterloo, she made sure her evenings and weekends were occupied with more than homework. Some of these experiences involved volunteering as a “Move your mind” workout buddy through Athletics and Recreation, an orientation leader with the Student Success Office (SSO) and a Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (AHS) ambassador.

During her studies, Eberlin also held a part-time job at the Visitor’s Centre and helped out with events for the AHS’ orientation and became a brand ambassador for the University, writing blog articles for the “Beyond Ideas” website.

“I chose all of these activities because I wanted to become more involved in my Faculty and connect with other Waterloo students,” Eberlin says. “I was proud to represent Waterloo and felt that these activities gave me to the opportunity to showcase my Warrior pride.”

So how does a student remain active outside of classes, but also excel academically? Eberlin says she relied heavily on her computer’s calendar to keep her organized and help her keep track of assignments, classes, meetings, work and events.

“My calendar often looked like a sea of colours as each category was represented by a different colour. This colour-coded system helped me ensure I did not miss anything,” she says. “Before taking on new positions and activities, I always planned my weeks in advance to make certain I had enough time for schoolwork while fitting in other activities. I have always been a very conscientious student with high expectations for myself, and I felt that my balance between school and additional activities helped me succeed academically.”

Eberlin says that she will miss many things about Waterloo, but the people most of all.

“I will miss the amazing friends I made during my first-year in residence, the teams I worked on, my peers in class, my professors, my co-workers and my mentors. I will miss the AHS community, where I always felt supported and welcomed. I will miss seeing familiar faces everywhere I went on campus.”

The one thing she will not miss: The geese.

“I will not miss crossing the street to avoid them, always being careful where I stepped, or ducking when 20 flew over me. They are definitely a staple on campus and although their goslings are cute, I will not miss them!”

She suggests that future undergraduate students get involved in activities they enjoy and are passionate about.

“There are so many opportunities that you can take advantage of during your time at Waterloo that will shape your journey and help you connect with other people that share your interests. it’s also important to be open to new opportunities and experiences because you never know where they may lead you.

“When you graduate from Waterloo, you will not remember every test or paper you wrote, but you will look back and remember all of the people you met and the experiences that you had.”