Harmony Groves
Name: Harmony Groves
Program: Movement Science
Level or Degree: Senior
What are you involved in on campus?
I am pre-physical therapy and will be applying to physical therapy school after graduation. I am also a member of the club softball team, Exercise in Medicine, and a research assistant at the Center on Physical Activity and Health in Pediatric Disabilities.
What does it mean to you to be a Kinesiology student ambassador?
For me, it means being an advocate for the program and a source of information for students who are in the same position as I was. I was so uncertain about what I wanted to do when I was a first-year student, and I found value in gathering information from people in different programs. I like being that source of information for anyone.
How has the School of Kinesiology prepared you for your post-graduation goals?
Movement Science is a great major. I transferred into Kinesiology the second semester my freshman year. The Movement Science degree gives a broad overview of the different areas of expertise we need to know for a variety of post-graduation plans. Each Kinesiology class is taught by knowledgeable professors who are experts in their fields and doing important research. I’m confident the school’s and university’s standards are preparing us for our post-graduation plans.
What makes the School of Kinesiology unique?
The School of Kinesiology makes a huge university feel smaller. You take classes with the same people within your major, getting familiar with them, and seeing them regularly around campus. It’s valuable for me because you build a sense of community and develop relationships with people who are on the same wavelength in terms of what they are interested in learning and where they can see themselves going. So having a tight-knit community of like-minded people within the university has been cool, and that is what I have enjoyed about Kinesiology.
What is your most memorable moment within the school?
I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, on a Kinesiology-sponsored study abroad trip where I learned about Buddhism, Thai culture, and overall well-being (physical, emotional, spiritual). The trip was amazing and I was introduced to more pre-physical therapy Kinesiology students.
It’s valuable for me because you build a sense of community and develop relationships with people who are on the same wavelength in terms of what they are interested in learning and where they can see themselves going.
Do you have an “a-ha” moment or a time when your perspective shifted?
I came into college uncertain of what I wanted to do and it was stressful. In my first semester, I was exploring all these different options and talking to everyone I could to try and figure out what I wanted to do. I went to a Kinesiology cross-campus transfer information session, and after hearing about Movement Science and meeting Kinesiology representatives, I knew I wanted to be here.
Tell us about your favorite experience in your program.
I volunteer at the Michigan Abilities Center, which is a physical therapy center that utilizes equine-assisted therapy, through the Pre-Physical Therapy Club. That has been the most unique experience I’ve gotten in a physical therapy setting.
How have you changed academically, personally, or professionally since your first year?
I come from a fairly small town without much diversity. U-M is diverse not only in people’s backgrounds but in the way they approach academics and issues. I have been exposed to different mindsets and backgrounds and it has forced me to grow in many aspects beyond academics.
What is your favorite thing to do in Ann Arbor?
I enjoy going to U-M athletic events, especially football and basketball games. It’s my academic break. I have always been a lifelong U-M athletics fan, but growing up I didn’t get the opportunity to go frequently, so I take advantage of it when I can.