“My job is to ensure that the individual receives the healthcare they require to get better. …I find it very rewarding, when a client informs me that their injury has resolved, they successfully completed their return-to-work plan, and they are back to working full hours and full duties.”
— Lindsay Marriott, Bachelor of Human Kinetics, Athletic Therapy stream (2014)
When Lindsay Marriott first learned about the career of athletic therapy while in high school, she thought that it would be a great career to pursue.
After attending a TWU preview weekend in grade 12, she decided TWU and the Human Kinetics program was the place for her. She also heard from several friends who had attended the university, and they only had good things to say about their experiences at TWU.
Highlights of studies at TWU
Among the most meaningful experiences that Marriott enjoyed at TWU were the wide range of courses: anatomy, biomechanics, athletic injuries, leadership, and strength and conditioning classes.
“These classes provided me with a firm foundation to have a successful career in athletic therapy,” she said. “I also really appreciated the ability to make meaningful relationships with my professors, as they were always willing to provide industry and career advice, on top of supporting me in my studies.”
Another meaningful experience for Marriott was participating in two travel studies programs. She traveled to Australia in 2010, and to London, U.K. for the 2012 Olympics. “Each trip taught me to see the world of sport in a whole different light compared to the sports culture in Canada,” she reflected.
“These classes provided me with a firm foundation to have a successful career in athletic therapy. I also really appreciated the ability to make meaningful relationships with my professors, as they were always willing to provide industry and career advice, on top of supporting me in my studies.”
Choices that contributed to career success
Marriott recalls some of the best decisions she made while studying at TWU.
“Personally, one of the best things I did as a student at TWU was participating in the Student Athletic Therapy program with the Spartans,” she said. “It allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge that I was learning in the classroom into real-life scenarios on the field, court and in the clinic.”
Another great experience was when Marriott spent a summer volunteering in an Occupational Rehabilitation (OR2) program at a physiotherapy clinic.
“The OR2 program is a specialized program that aims to help rehabilitate an individual’s injuries that occurred on the job site,” she explained. “All of these volunteer experiences helped me develop my resume so that I was able to secure a job in my field upon graduation.”
"Once I graduated from TWU, I remained curious to learn more skills in injury rehabilitation, develop more manual treatment skills and gain more strength and conditioning knowledge. This path has led me to complete more continuing education courses, learn from mentors and pursue various job opportunities, which has caused me to grow and develop professionally."
“All of these volunteer experiences helped me develop my resume so that I was able to secure a job in my field upon graduation.”
A rewarding career
Marriott is now a Recovery and Return-to-Work Specialist at WorkSafeBC, where she manages injury claims of individuals who are injured while performing their job demands at their places of employment.
She shares some of the joys and challenges of her current job.
“The recovery from any injury and return to work process can be very physically, mentally and emotionally challenging for individuals and their employers,” she explained.
“My job is to ensure that the individual receives the healthcare they require to get better. I communicate with all stakeholders (client, employer and healthcare providers) and develop a safe and effective return-to-work plan, so that the individual can return to their job and their pre-injury life.”
“Each claim is very unique and provides specific challenges that need to be solved throughout the claim,” she continues.
“I find it very rewarding, when a client informs me that their injury has resolved, they successfully completed their return-to-work plan, and they are back to working full hours and full duties.”
Applying knowledge gained at TWU to the job field
In order to develop a return-to-work plan for a client, Marriott needs to be able to fully understand the individual’s job demands, their employer’s needs, and where the individual is at in their injury recovery.
“To do this, I use the knowledge I learned from anatomy class, athletic injuries class and strength classes,” Marriott shares.
“I also use the concepts of biomechanics to break down common movements that the individual performs (e.g. climbing stairs, carrying product to stock the shelves, lifting boxes of products) throughout their work shift.”
Landing the job
“Essentially, your degree will get you in the door for a job interview, but it's the important experiences ...that will help you land that job or open the door to your next opportunity!”
Finally, Marriott has this advice for current and future students — wisdom she learned from Andrew Heming, her academic advisor at TWU.
It is captured with a metaphor:
“Think of your degree as the outside shell of a briefcase: it's an important element, as the outside provides structure,” Marriott begins.
“Now think of the inside of your briefcase as where all the important stuff is kept (e.g. reports, projects, presentation notes, etc.). The inside of your 'briefcase' should be filled with your experiences (e.g. practicum placements, volunteer experiences, continuing education courses/certifications, and prior jobs,” she continued.
“Essentially, your degree will get you in the door for a job interview, but it's the important experiences within your briefcase that will help you land that job or open the door to your next opportunity!”
The benefits of gaining a global perspective
On the topic of experiential learning, Marriott offers further encouragement.
“My other piece of advice is: if you have the opportunity to take a Travel Study, do it! I was fortunate enough to participate in two HKIN travel studies (Australia 2010 and the London 2012 Olympics travel study). Each trip provided me with an opportunity to learn 'outside the classroom', and to get to know my professors on a personal level. The experiences provided me with a new global perspective on sport and the world as a whole. Lastly, travel studies also taught me the skills that are required for international travel, which I have continued to use as I travelled extensively throughout my 20s.”
See also —TWU graduate Daniel Leung sought to benefit others through studying human health:
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier global Christian liberal arts University. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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The views expressed by students and alumni are their own. They do not necessarily represent the views of Trinity Western University or of any other companies, groups or organizations named.