Tricia’s Recreation Storytelling

Hello, my name is Tricia Steffen and I’m a Recreation Studies graduate student at Ohio University. Currently, I am in my last semester of graduate school and job hunting for the right career that will make all my passions meet my profession.

Why did I choose Sport, Recreation, and Education?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved competition, being outside, and playing for endless hours. From playing “kick the can” to adventuring through the woods finding natures treasures, I knew I loved sports and exercising at a very young age. This love for sports would continue to blossom with age. Throughout high school and college, I became involved with cross country and track and field. I spent many weekends running through beautiful wooded paths and racing on a variety of tracks. During college, I was very unsure of what to major in and that’s when it hit me; I should be doing what I love. I loved sports, exercise, health, and working with others whether it is young children all the way up to adults. I ended up becoming a licensed K-12 physical and health education teacher along with earning a degree in Sport management and a minor in coaching.

My Steps to Become an Ohio University Bobcat

After graduating with my undergraduate degree, I decided a Master’s degree sounded like a nice next step. Through meeting the Distance Track and Field Coach at Ohio University, I found out about the Physical Activity and Wellness program that allows for graduate students to teach physical activity classes to undergraduate students while obtaining a Master’s degree in Recreation Studies or Coaching Education. The job and opportunity sounded perfect for me so I applied for the Recreation Studies program. Although I had a lot of experience with coaching, I decided to take the Recreation Studies route to open up more opportunities for my passion of being physically active to become part of my profession.

My Experience at Ohio University

Thus far, I have gained ample amounts of knowledge and experience from Ohio University. This program allows for you to gain hands on experiences that allow for learning and growth as a student and as a person. The program keeps you on your toes and every class can add value to what you might do in the future. I aspire to be a coach, teacher, and business owner (@Steffen_Up_My_Fitness) after I graduate. This program has allowed for my passions to become my profession in the future! Thank you Ohio University!!