Ireland: Abby Ballek
Program: UW Inclusive Physical Activity & Sports in Ireland, Summer
Major: Rehabilitative Psychology
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
The most remarkable thing I have ever done during this program was participating in Gaelic football with the Adaptive Physical Activities club. This sport was completely new for me prior to this occasion; therefore, learning about another significant aspect of Irish culture was an exciting experience. The most striking part about it was that I got a chance to play this sport together with people from the club. Moreover, the experience was notable due to the fact that everybody looked so friendly and supportive there and seemed to enjoy the time. I think this is a experience I will always remember and look back on. I had so much fun being able to play tag, and get to know the people in the club. They were all full of joy and energy.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
This experience taught me things not only about myself but also about the world around me. First of all, I realized that I am quite a sociable person and that I enjoy meeting new people, exploring, and filling my days with all opportunities. This experience also showed me how much work and dedication are involved in helping other people. During the journey, I met professionals who devoted all of themselves to what they do, for example, Dr. Bernadette Gillick. She was extremely devoted to her profession; she worked hard to help the health of children and adults improve not only through research but also by providing clinical help. Witnessing this passion made me admire even more the medical field and helped me realize once again that one needs to be involved in the area where they are really interested.
Understanding the connections among the participants enabled me to recognize the significance of such events in developing confidence, socializing, and building a sense of community.
How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?
I consider myself an individual who has grown up being somewhat shy throughout my childhood, an aspect that forced me to venture out of my comfort zone. Initially, it appeared easier for me to be convinced that I lacked intelligence compared to my fellow students. Moreover, I have never been the most interested in learning in a classroom setting, and playing sports was more natural to me.
But I quickly understood that every person on the program came to learn, to question something, and to find new things. No one had all the answers. To those students who feel the same way, my advice would be to throw themselves out into whatever happens to come their way. Don’t let self-doubt affect your participation.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
This experience helped me to understand adaptive physical activity and the concept of inclusion much better. Being interested in the Occupational Therapy profession, I needed to see such ideas in practice and gain some experience of cooperation with people who have various kinds of limitations. Furthermore, understanding the connections among the participants enabled me to recognize the significance of such events in developing confidence, socializing, and building a sense of community.
Although learning about adaptive physical activities was fun for me, participating on the program also allowed me to better realize what my career path may involve. In particular, this event strengthened my desire to pursue a career in sports and rehabilitation, whereby I will get to help injured athletes return to their favorite activities.