Welcoming First Cohort: Kyle Drugge

He shares about himself, goals and insights about starting his journey to the MSK program.

What is one fun fact about yourself?

One fun fact about me is that I am related through the family tree to Amelia Earhart, an aviation pioneer.

What inspired you to join the MSK program at PLU?

I have a strong desire to deepen my competence in the field of Kinesiology, specifically sport psychology.  I majored in business for my undergraduate (BBA ’18) at PLU, but minored in exercise and sport psychology and that is really when I figured out that I wanted to pursue a master’s program in this field.  A lot of pieces fell into place for this opportunity at PLU to happen. I originally applied to other great programs around the country, but when I got the news that PLU would be starting this program, I chose to pass up other opportunities and wait so that I could stay a Lute!

Amazing faculty, the scope and style of the program, and an opportunity to coach at the university, were all strong reasons for me to choose the PLU MSK program.

What are you most excited to learn?

I am most excited to learn more about the science of sport psychology, but I am even more excited to learn about how to use that information ethically and competently in an applied setting. The faculty and my peers have so much knowledge, I just can’t wait to collaborate and learn from all of them.

How would you use this degree in your future career?

Well I don’t know yet exactly what “job” or “career title” I’m after, but I want to be in a coach or teacher role. So whether I become a college golf coach, a sport psychology consultant, a doctorate student in sport and performance psychology, those are some of the routes that I am interested in, but I mostly love learning this stuff, and want to be able to help people using the information that I will acquire from this program. I’m sure I will start to zero in on my path as I progress through the program.

What tips would you share with undergraduate students when considering a graduate program?

For students that are considering a graduate program, my advice is two-fold.

First, do your homework. So much of a graduate program is less about that degree/diploma itself and more about the opportunities, who you want to surround yourself with and what you plan on doing after the program.

Take into consideration faculty, is it more research-based, applied-based, or a blend, and think about where you will be challenged to grow the most.

The other piece of my advice is to make sure that you really want it and that you really love to learn what you are studying. If you are considering a graduate program because it will give you a professional advantage over your peers, or because it is the next degree to get, while that may be true, I personally believe those reasons aren’t strong enough to make it worth your while.

If you have a rock-solid desire to know your stuff, use it ethically, and use it for the betterment of yourself and those around you, then you are probably on the right track for a graduate program!