"There are so many different career choices in the world and it's important to do something that you love. Be excited and passionate about what you study, and the rest will follow.”
— Lucas Van Berkel, Bachelor of Human Kinetics, 2014
Lucas Van Berkel chose things that made him uncomfortable, and he knew it was the right thing to do.
He decided to leave his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta to come to Trinity Western University knowing that it was going to be quite an adjustment; yet he felt that God was calling him to TWU and knew that this was the best place for him.
In the same way, Van Berkel felt called to play professional volleyball overseas.
"Trinity Western is a special place that focuses on community and excellence, all while using a godly lens. The professors and faculty really care about you as a person."
Pursuing dreams across the globe
Van Berkel, who graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Kinesiology), is currently a professional volleyball player at VfB Friedrichshafen, a sports club based in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
It sounded like a dream, but moving across the globe would come with some natural difficulties. These choices he endured while working and pushing himself, and this helped contribute to his success as a person and an athlete.
While at TWU, he chose to study Human Kinetics because he had always been fascinated by the human body and loved to understand how it functions. He enjoyed figuring out the most effective and efficient ways people can use their bodies in everyday life, and in sport.
Highlights of life at TWU
Van Berkel enjoyed the "interactive relationships" he built while he was at TWU. He shared that "Trinity Western is a special place that focuses on community and excellence, all while using a godly lens," adding, "The professors and faculty really care about you as a person.”
This was the most meaningful experience for him during his years at TWU, and because of that, he will forever have a support system and lifelong friendships.
He enjoys being a professional athlete because he gets to do what he absolutely loves as a job. He also shared that if he were in Canada working a different job, he would still want to play volleyball as a hobby.
Seeing the world
Now as a professional athlete, he can play volleyball as a career while seeing the world. The lifestyle comes with its challenges, he added, but he is truly blessed to be able to do this for a living while having his wife and son by his side.
He reflected on how his studies at TWU has helped him in his career as a professional volleyball player. While at TWU, he learned proper functional movement patterns, how to identify and manage specific sports injury situations, and how to properly teach someone a new skill. He believes that Human Kinetics was the best program he could have chosen to prepare him for success in his current context.
A future beyond the court
He added that TWU has also helped prepare him for his future beyond the court. After his volleyball career, he would like to pursue firefighting. He thinks that his degree will help him in a career as a firefighter, because of the emphasis on teamwork and community.
His education in the Human Kinetics program was so much more than sitting at a desk and reading a textbook. He shared that he and his peers were always on the move, working as a class to come up with solutions to various problems. They also learned about the body, anatomy and how the body properly functions. These invaluable skills and knowledge will all serve to help him in his career as a firefighter.
Advice for current and future students
Van Berkel’s advice to current and future TWU students is to try out different courses. He said, “Human Kinetics was the right fit for me but maybe it's not for you. Try different courses and see what catches your attention. There are so many different career choices in the world and it's important to do something that you love. Be excited and passionate about what you study, and the rest will follow.”
See also—How TWU internship, travel and volunteer experiences helped Lindsay Marriott launch her career as a Recovery and Return-to-Work Specialist:
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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.