Scholarship Essay Entry – Danielle P.

One Step at a Time
The most important question I have been faced with throughout the course of my young adult life has been, "Danielle, what do you want to be when you grow up?" This question was asked of me quite often and I would confidently reply, "a maternity nurse." I had it all figured out. I dreamed of being a maternity nurse just like my aunt. This dream quickly came to a halt, the day I stepped into a hospital and realized that hospitals were not for me. This revelation was devastating as it had been my dream for so long. I was now left without the slightest clue of what I wanted to do with my life. However, finding this out at a young age allowed me to continue on my quest of discovering a career that would be perfectly suited to my personality and that I would truly possess a passion for.

In hopes of finding a sense of direction I enrolled into Open Studies at Grande Prairie Community College. I completed my first year of post-secondary education as well as coming to a conclusion of which educational route I would take. I realized two things; I wanted to make a difference in the world, while doing something that I loved. Now, the answer to my educational path was no longer a blur. What do I love to do? SPORTS! Can I make a difference in this area? YES! It was just over a year ago that I was accepted into the Bachelor of Recreation, Sports, and Tourism program at the University of Alberta. In the fall I will be returning to the U of A as a second year student in the BARST program. Once I am finished school I would like to focus on the recreation and sport aspect of my degree and get involved with various programs such as ParticipACTION.

Recreation, sports, and tourism allows me to reach a broad audience. This, in turn provides me with several opportunities to make a difference. It is clear that health and obesity are major topics of concern in today's society. These issues have had a particularly huge impact amongst children. Statistical information tells us that today less than fifty percent of our youth are considered active. Through the field of recreation and sports I will be able to promote the benefits of being active and put in place a prevention method that will address these topics of concern. I feel by investing time with our youth in this area it will counteract future negative outcomes like obesity and health problems. Quality of life is something I value and cherish deeply. Therefore, it is my goal in life to motivate and inspire others in leading a healthy lifestyle "one step at a time".