Meet Doug: Exercise science

My name is Doug Gettleson, and I'm a freshman in the exercise science major on a pre-professional clinical track. I'm currently involved in Phi Gamma Delta, the Lee Honors College, and I'm a student ambassador in the College of Education and Human Development.

I chose exercise science because I love to work out, and I started getting into the science behind it. I got really interested in it and found out about physical therapy and realized that's what I wanted to do. 

I live in Heights West and it's absolutely great. I've had great experiences there and I feel really close to everybody in my pod.

They also have a cleaning crew that cleans the communal bathrooms three times a day, so that has been an added bonus!

Being at a school where I'm going to be able to stay for graduate school is a great thing about Western's program.

My favorite professor so far I've had is Professor Raedy. She is always available to help you. You can talk to her about grades and for advice about your major. 

The main reason I joined the Honors College is because it looks really good as I go on to apply for careers in the future and it's helpful with picking classes. They have early course selection and its been one of the best benefits I have gotten from it. 

I actually have two dream careers. So my first would be to be an athletic physical therapist, work for a professional team, get to travel. But also I would like to work in an acute care facility at a hospital for disabled veterans. My dad's a disabled veteran, so helping people like him would be a big deal to me and something that hits close to home.

It's one of the best things I've done and one of the best decisions I've made. I've gotten so much experience working with people, being able to answer questions and talk confidently in front of groups of people. I think that it's socially helped me progress.

I think that it also is really helpful for organization because my organizational skills were decent, but I think that the job has definitely helped with time management.

As everybody says, Western has the big campus size with the small campus feel and there's always something to do.