For Varsity Blues men's hockey player Zack Terry, the decision to come to U of T was not based on comfort. 

"Advice that I would give to anyone applying to schools would be  to not be influenced by the decisions of those around you," explained Terry. "I knew very few people who had gone to U of T and little about it, but once I visited campus, I knew it was a place that I could see myself for the next four years." 

That immediate sense of choice has since been rewarded. The Oakville native has excelled in the classroom, earning U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours. In addition, Terry has already appeared in over 50 games with the Varsity Blues through two seasons. Throughout it all, he has enjoyed the experiences within both the kinesiology and Varsity Blues communities. 

"My favourite memory as a Varsity Blue so far was our trip to Princeton during my first year. We had the opportunity to tour campus, play in the Princeton rink, and go see a New York Jets game in New Jersey. Road trips are always the memories that last the most." 

"And then I also loved Human Anatomy courses with Dr. Judi Laprade. Rather than standing at the front for the entire class every day, she would teach a concept, provide various additional resources for further learning, and provide opportunity for us to engage with the content that she taught. Dr. Laprade created games for review and allowed us to be active in our learning, which made this one of my favourite classes." 

Balancing it all is no easy feat. Among U of T's 23 varsity sports, hockey carries one of the heaviest loads - daily training, practices, and a season that can span from September to late March with 28 regular-season games, plus preseason and playoffs. However, this intense calendar has never been a deterrent for Terry who accepts the challenge head-on. 

"Balancing academics and athletics can be a challenge, but using time management skills and looking ahead at athletic demands is essential for success. To manage my time, I typically look at the month ahead and make note of when we practice, play games, and specifically note travel commitments. Based on this I make a week-to-week plan of when I plan to begin and complete the necessary course work and always plan to have it completed at least 1-2 days prior to a due date." 

Now entering his third year in the kinesiology program, Terry shows an interest in continuing his education beyond his undergraduate degree. 

"I am intending to complete a Certificate in Sports Science and Certificate in Clinical Movement Science, and hope to attend graduate school to pursue a Master's of Physiotherapy to further be able to work in a clinical setting with athletes in their injury recovery. The Kinesiology program offered at U of T provides the opportunity to develop skillsets in a broad range of topics, such as body mechanics, injury prevention, sports medicine, and injury rehabilitation, which will best prepare me for success in these post-grad opportunities."