Graham Peeters balances varsity rowing and pharmacy school as a mature student
Balancing a demanding professional degree with varsity athletics requires discipline, resilience and careful prioritization. For Graham Peeters (Rx2028) competition has always been a part of his life but returning to rowing while pursuing pharmacy school as a mature student has reshaped how he approaches the sport.
Peeters’ rowing career began unexpectedly. Although he was familiar with the sport from watching the Olympics, it was his high school track and field coach who suggested he try rowing, veering his post-secondary journey onto a different path.
After graduating in 2017 from Trent University with a Bachelor of Science, double major in chemistry and biology, Peeters took some time away from school to focus on his rowing career. He moved to Victoria, British Columbia and worked full-time while training. In 2019, he went to the Pan Am games and came sixth overall, spending nearly a decade rowing competitively. After retiring from rowing in 2022, Peeters applied to pharmacy school but was not accepted. He shifted his focus, completed his pharmacy technician training and began working full-time in the field. Several years later, he felt drawn back to the idea of pursuing his PharmD.
“I’m naturally a competitive person, so I decided to try again, I kept thinking maybe I could make it into Waterloo this time,” he says. Returning to school as a mature student is a significant decision, particularly for someone already established in their career. Peeters credits a friend with helping him clarify his path.
“Back in 2017, when I was deciding whether to keep rowing, he told me that if you’re questioning something, it probably means yes,” Peeters says. “I’ve carried that advice with me — and I just couldn’t stop thinking about becoming a pharmacist.”
Upon accepting his offer to Waterloo Pharmacy, Peeters decided to pursue another recurring thought, to return to rowing. He reached out to the Waterloo varsity rowing team in 2024 to see if they had space to take on another athlete. After completing a summer training camp, Peeters joined the team for the fall 2025 season, while simultaneously navigating the demands of Waterloo’s first-year in the pharmacy program.
Graham Peeters with doubles partner Callum Myers. Photo credit Alan Willemsen, University of Waterloo rowing coach.
His weekly training schedule consisted of waking up at 4 a.m. daily for practice, followed by long days on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evenings dedicated to studying and assignments.
“Balancing 20 hours of training a week with a full class schedule, while prioritizing mental health and rest, takes discipline and intention,” Peeters says. “I lay out my schedule for the entire semester using a digital calendar, and I’ve learned to recognize when I need to take rests.”
After a competitive season, Peeters and his doubles partner earned a silver medal at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in Montreal.
“Being an athlete at the highest level while pursuing a professional degree also requires support from the School,” he says. “Due to the championships, I would have missed several classes, assignments and a midterm exam. The professors and advisors helped me re-schedule the assignments and midterm so I could participate in the championships while also excelling in my schoolwork.”
Coming back to rowing as a mature student with different goals, Peeters’ view of rowing shifted.
“My priority is pharmacy school, and because of the shift in my goals, my love for rowing showed up differently,” he says. “This time I rowed for the love of the sport, without the pressure to be the best.”
Peeters found fulfillment in supporting his teammates and contributing to the team’s overall success.
“Part of what I love about the sport is the finesse required and always having the ability to improve, this time around I focused on helping my teammates progress,” he says. “I’ve coached before and this experience has me considering returning to coaching in the future.”
L-R: Callum Myers, Graham Peeters and varsity rowing coach Alan Willemsen. Photo credit: Gabriele Navickas.
Graham Peeters at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony. Photo credit: Elizabeth Peeters.
L-R: Rose Swarz, Emily Weiland, Graham Peeters and Callum Myers. Photo credit Alan Willemsen, University of Waterloo rowing coach.
L-R: Ethan Turner, Zak Eckert, Jillian Gallagher, Gabriele Navickas, and Graham Peeters. Photo credit: Vilma Navickienė.
Following the completion of his first year of pharmacy school and rowing season, Peeters finished his first co-op work term at a smaller independent pharmacy in Waterloo. During the work term, Peeters dove into both the technical and clinical aspects of pharmacy practice, filling prescriptions, processing insurance claims and developing counselling skills alongside the pharmacist. He also started working on his clinical and counselling skills alongside the pharmacist, managing antibiotic allergies and correcting those dose prescriptions for children. The clinic provides INR testing and Warfarin management, aspects Peeters was excited to learn more about.
“Teamwork is fundamental to rowing,” he says. “Most of my success came from crew boats, where coming together around a shared goal matters more than individual differences. I approach pharmacy the same way, recognizing each team member’s strengths to provide the best patient care.”
For the rest of his time at Waterloo, Peeters looks forward to learning more about how medications improve patient outcomes, continuing to compete in pharmacy competitions and, if possible, staying connected to rowing.
Banner image photo credit: Canadian University Rowing Championship, Sarah Maude Comtois.