The classrooms and labs at The Ohio State University recently buzzed with the energy of visiting high school students from Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City. The students, who are juniors immersed in the study of exercise science, were given a firsthand look into the world of collegiate health sciences during their tour of Ohio State’s Physical Activity and Educational Services Building, as reported by news.osu.edu. They didn't just observe, they stepped directly into the spaces where research and education converge.
Highlighting the significance of this visit, Associate Professor Carmen Swain noted that "they can see top-notch facilities and see everything that we do in the labs and all of the research and the teaching and the high-impact experiences that undergraduates receive as part of their programming,” as she told news.osu.edu. For high schoolers considering a future in exercise science, such opportunities can be a crystal-clear window into the applications of their current studies and the possibilities that lie ahead.
During their campus experience, the students were not mere spectators, they engaged with graduate and undergraduate students alike, delving into the practical aspects of exercise science. Kristin DeRoads, the career center's exercise science instructor, emphasized the value of these interactive visits, saying, "Being able to actually see and experience them as a student gives them a different perspective and hopefully opens their eyes to what exercise science truly can offer to them," in a statement obtained by news.osu.edu. A demonstration of educational synergy, the encounter provides a tangible link between the theoretical knowledge acquired in high school and its real-world applications.
The tour didn't stop at observation, it was also educational in nature, with Jean-Pierre Khouzam, an Ohio State kinesiology major and graduate teaching associate, leading the way. Khouzam shared insights into his research and underlined that the exercise science program "isn’t just sitting in a class or sitting in a lab,” but rather, a dynamic field with hands-on experiences and varied career opportunities, according to news.osu.edu interview. From potential internships to research positions, the scope is vast, lending young minds a view of the diverse paths their education could take.
Finally, Swain provided an overview of the plethora of directions one might pursue after studying exercise science at Ohio State. “A lot of times people use exercise science as a springboard into some other type of career like physical therapy, foundational therapy practitioners, occupational therapy, medical doctors,” Swain told the students. She also noted opportunities in strength conditioning, coaching, community health and wellness, and research, showcasing the program’s breadth as seen on news.osu.edu.
.jpg){kind=link}