Kimberly Madden
Kimberly Madden is a junior in Recreation, Sports and Tourism.
What are your general impressions of your studies and RST as a whole?
I love that I chose to be a part of the RST department. RST is a small department, but it creates a great community atmosphere,
which makes it a lot of fun. In addition, the professors in our department are astounding. They are very approachable and are eager
to help and encourage us to succeed.
What has been your most interesting experience at the University of Illinois?
My most interesting experience has been studying abroad at the University of Stirling for the Fall 2010 semester. I love to
travel and to learn about other cultures, so I was eager to study abroad. I was excited to explore how Scotland manages the leisure
options for their citizens, and to compare their system to ours in America. This experience gave me new ideas about recreation and
leisure that can be applicable in not only the classroom, but in the professional world as well.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I have not fully determined my post-graduation plans, but as of right now I am considering either working for a park district,
doing research, or going into policy studies. I like the idea of being able to better an individual and society’s well-being and
happiness through recreation, which is something I can do in a park district. However, I am also considering options in the research
and policy fields. Either way I hope to get a master’s degree in RST or Public Policy in the near future.
What extracurricular activities/student organizations are you involved with?
I am involved in a few student organizations. I am a member of the James Scholar Advisory Board, and I am on the Applied Health
Sciences Student Council as the RST Ambassador. I am also involved with the Urbana Park District.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to be outdoors, and particularly enjoy hiking and kayaking. Other interests include traveling and cooking.
Why would you recommend RST and/or AHS to others?
I would recommend RST because it is a major that encompasses many different areas of study. Its a major that gives you transferable
skills that are relevant in fields like business, policy, environmental science, and so many more. I love that RST allows me to explore
all of these fields, and it makes me feel like I will be very prepared when I graduate. Most of all, RST is a major that can be very
rewarding. Our job is to better people’s quality of life, and that to me is something that really drew me to become an RST major.