Softball 1/6/2022 3:54:00 PM

STUDENT-ATHLETE STORIES: HOW HELPING OTHERS HELPED GRAHAM ZONE IN ON HER CAREER PATH

(Pictured above: It was all smiles for Katelyn Graham and her Varsity Blues teammates getting to return to competing in 2021 | Photo by Charlie Sun)

Each Thursday, varsityblues.ca will highlight a U of T student-athlete and their academic pursuits. Each of these students achieved first class honours with an AGPA of at least 3.50 in the previous academic year. These are our Student-Athlete Stories.

For many people, trying to decide what they want their career to look like and what they want to do with their lives after university can be a tricky and lengthy task. That, however, was not the case for Katelyn Graham. Staying true to the family values that were instilled in her from a young age, the Varsity Blues softball veteran knew her chosen career must focus on one thing – helping others.

"My grandparents were always a huge influence in my desire to help others," Graham said. "My Nonno served in World War II and my Nonna raised 8 children as well as helped raise 21 grandchildren."

"They would always encourage and promote volunteerism, kindness and helping others. I grew up volunteering in the church with my grandfather every Sunday, something which became a highlight in my week."

Staying true to her upbringing, the fourth-year outfielder found the perfect way to marry her strong desire to help others with her love of sports while at U of T. Studying Kinesiology, the Toronto native says she gets to experience the best of both worlds.

"I chose to study Kinesiology because I have always had a love for sports and physical activity," she said. "I knew that sport was something that I wanted to stay involved with for as long as possible, so I wanted to pick a field of study that allowed me to stay connected with my passion for sport."

"Also, it was very important to me that I study something that applies to my everyday life. Rather than memorizing formulas and theories, I wanted to makes sure that I could leave class with information that I could immediately apply to the real world. I am hoping to enter a career path that allows me to help people every day."

Already beginning to see the fruits of her labour, Graham's time spent helping others has led to not just personal fulfillment, but also career opportunities.

To go along with her volunteering within the church, Graham also spent time tutoring students while in high school. However, it was her time volunteering as an elementary school volleyball coach that has really begun to open doors.

What began as simply living up to those family values and filling a desire to give back, has now flourished into a head coaching position with a 14U team and an assistant coaching position with a 17U squad.

"With [my grandparents] help and support as well as ongoing support from my parents, I was able to engage in many volunteer positions involving community service throughout my life," Graham said. "I quickly realized that the feeling of giving and helping others was much greater to me than that of receiving, and a bonus was getting to see the effects of my work first hand through coaching young people, volunteering at food banks and simply doing favours for others in my life."

"This helped me realize that I wanted to be involved with a career that allowed me to make a difference in the lives of others each and every day."

(Graham (right) and Erin Sullivan (left) following a doulbe header sweep of the Carleton Ravens during the 2021 regular season | Seyran Mammadov)

Already balancing her studies, coaching and volunteer endeavours, Graham just recently finished her third season with the Varsity Blues softball team.

In a year that saw the Blues reach the OIWFA final four tournament, the Toronto product and her team experienced plenty of success returning from the cancelled 2020 season.

Much like when she volunteers for the greater good of everybody, Graham says their success on the diamond consists of similar factors.

"Although softball is a team sport, everyone on the roster is individually involved in every aspect of the game," she said. "In the offensive component of the game, you are competing individually against the defence to get a hit. There is always emotional support from the team, and of course strategy implemented on the bases, however, at the end of the day it is up to you to put forth your best effort in your own individual opportunities during the game."

"Defensively, although your team always has your back, there are many individual moments of catching fly balls, making your throws and deciding which plays to run that can make a big difference in the game. Therefore, I have learned that you must always put your best foot forward and ensure that you are doing as much as you can to help the team."

With convocation just around the corner, Graham heads into the spring semester knowing she has just one semester left before completing her kinesiology undergraduate degree.

"I chose to attend U of T because of the incredible academic and athletic reputations that it holds," Graham said. "Attending U of T prepares you for the real world as it pushes you out of your comfort zone both with the busy environment of downtown Toronto and the challenges presented by professors in your classes."

"It is also so motivating to be surrounded by so many hard working, driven individuals in both my classes and on my team."

Fully motivated, educated and filled with a desire to make the world a better place for everyone, it won't be long before Graham's making even more of a positive impact on those around her.

"It is very important to me that the work that I am doing is positively affecting those around me, and I would love to witness this effect first hand," she said. "Teaching or physiotherapy are both careers that are very attractive to me, and my kinesiology degree allows me to gain insight and knowledge on both occupations, making me even more excited for the next chapter of my life."

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