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, presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario.
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It is often said that broken bones heal stronger than they were before. After breaking his neck and facing an uncertain future, Varsity Blues football player Koby Lee has forged an incredible comeback. Balancing football, a top-tier academic program, and a mission to support mental health, Lee's journey at the University of Toronto is nothing short of inspirational.
Now pursuing his Master's of Business Administration at U of T's prestigious Rotman School of Management, Lee's academic and athletic story began with significant hurdles.
Originally from New York, Lee came to U of T in 2019 as an international student, stepping into the challenging world of engineering, while pursuing his passion for football. His first year, however, was a humbling experience. Not only was the engineering curriculum particularly demanding, but as an undersized athlete he would need to prove himself to a new coaching staff as a walk-on. As a result, his GPA did not meet the standards that he had grown accustomed to and his ability to continue playing the game that he loved was far from assured. It was a wake-up call for Lee, forcing him to reassess his approach and to evolve as a student-athlete.
"I'm not sure that I fully appreciated how different things would be as an international student," said Lee. "I mean loonies, toonies, and a 110-yard field with 20-yard endzones, really? Seriously though, I think that most students have a period where they adjust to the increased demands of being a student-athlete at the university level. The great thing for me was being part of two tight-knit communities on campus - the international students at Chestnut and my brothers on the football team - that helped me mentally, physically, and emotionally."
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(Lee studying at Rotman School of Management in October of 2024 | Photo by Neil Patel)
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Then, in 2021, adversity struck in a way no one could have predicted. In his first season as a starting defensive back, Lee suffered a concussion and serious neck injury that put his future on hold. He broke his neck, specifically the C1 vertebra, also known as the atlas bone. The months that followed were filled with uncertainty—not only about his athletic career but also about his ability to graduate on time. He spent the next six weeks of his recovery in a neck brace, dropping courses to make up later while preparing for job interviews for an upcoming co-op placement year.
"I don't know how much of that time I clearly remember," said Lee. "I suspect a lot of the blanks have been filled in by friends, family, and my teammates. I do remember feeling an immense sense of gratitude, especially for the medical support staff at U of T and for all of the love and support that everyone in my life was giving me. It felt like what I would imagine being in the eye of a hurricane is like. After a chaotic and dangerous time, there was a calm and everything just slowed down drastically, but you still have no idea what the future may hold. You focus on what you can control, and then have faith that everything will work out, but you still don't know for sure."
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(Lee in the hospital after breaking his neck | photo provided by Koby Lee)
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Despite the odds and the long road back, Lee's perseverance brought him through. His recovery came faster than anticipated, and he was given the green light to return to football, with no added risk of injury. Determined to prove himself, both on the field and in the classroom, Lee rejoined the team. Even while working a full-time job in Oakville during his co-op year, he found a way to commute and continue playing football.
Entering his final year of undergrad, Lee set his sights on achieving academic all-Canadian status, a personal goal he had held since his first year. This was the year he would prove, under normal academic and life conditions, that he could balance his engineering studies and being a Varsity Blue.
Not only did Koby rise to the challenge academically, but he also applied the skills he had gained in his co-op experience to elevate the spirit of the Varsity Blues football team. Using his expertise in 3D printing, Koby created the Varsity Blues Turnover Chain, a symbol of unity and celebration for the team.
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(Lee posing with the 3D printed turnover chain at Varsity Stadium in October 2024 | Photo by Neil Patel)
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Not only did his academic achievements culminate with all-Canadian honours, Lee was also admitted into the MBA program, allowing him to suit up for the Blues for another season.
"Being named an academic all-Canadian is a tremendous honor, but in many ways it's also a meaningful culmination of my undergraduate experience at U of T," said Lee. "It validates the choices that I've made and reinforces the belief that I can achieve anything that I set my mind to. The fact that I can now pursue my entrepreneurial aspirations at an institution as well regarded as Rotman and still be able to continue my football journey as a Varsity Blue is more than I could ever have asked for."
Lee's personal experience with injury and recovery inspired him to make a difference in the community. Through his clothing business as a budding entrepreneur, he launched a fundraiser hoodie to provide young adults in Toronto with access to free mental health therapy. The project speaks to Lee's broader mission to use his experiences to uplift others and create positive change.
"During the recovery from my injury, it sometimes felt like the world was moving along without me and I remember how isolating that was," said Lee. "Accessibility services played a critical role in helping me to regain my footing and it helps countless others on an everyday basis in untold ways that have profound impacts. It's for these reasons that I aspire to use my entrepreneurial platform to empower others and inclusively amplify their voices."
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