view . spring2015
7
Givingback isacommon theme in theverybusy lifeof
AdrianaBaggio, fourth-yearmovement studies student in the
UWindsorFacultyof HumanKinetics. “Themultiplepositions
I’veheldall giveback in someway, shapeor form.”
For example, shevaluesgivingback to thecommunityas shedid
onan international levelwhen she travelled toNicaraguaaspart of
theentrepreneurial initiativeorganization, StudentsOfferingSupport
(SOS). Shevolunteered togo toNicaragua inAugust 2012as a second-
year student and thepresident of theWindsor SOSchapter. She spent
twoweekswithabout adozenother students todistribute supplies and
help fundand sustainvarious educational projects in thecommunity.
“Beingable toexperience that culturehas
been invaluable,” saysBaggio. “Wegot to live the
way thecommunitymembers live.Weall stayed
ina room.Weall slept next toeachother on the
floor.Wehad riceandbeans twiceaday.Wehad
toput ourwater throughawater filter.Wehad to
takea showerwithabucket of water.”
But thegreatest hardshipwas sayinggoodbye.
“You just get soconnected to thecommunity,
and theyare just sograteful,” saysBaggio. “You’renot onlygiving
them themoney to sendmore students to school. It’snot about the
material thingsyoucangive someone—it’s about usingwhatever you
cangive to showyour appreciation.”
She says itwas averyeye-openingexperience thatmadeher
appreciatemanyof the simpleand little things in life. “Someof the
kidshavenever seenapictureof themselves,which is—I think—
something that reallyhit home.”
Baggiohas foundmanyways tocontributeduringher four years
at theUniversity. She ispresident of theHumanKineticsSociety,
and ispart of theFacultyof HumanKineticsmentorshipprogram,
KinOne. It isdesigned tohelpandguidefirst-year kinesiology students
throughout their academicyear.
“We’re family in theHKbuilding,” she says. “We’realsoa little
bit off-campus and that just contributes to the familyatmosphere.
We foster that senseof communityandhelpingothers.”
“Adriana is anexceptional student, leader andadvocateof our
program,” saysDr.DaveAndrews, kinesiologydepartment head.
“Her positiveenergyandenthusiasm for enhancing the student
experience in theFacultyof HumanKinetics andat theUniversity
of Windsor isunwaveringand, seemingly, unlimited.”
Baggio is also the student representative for theHK facultyat the
OntarioUniversitiesFair held inTorontoeachSeptember, attendedby
thousandsof prospective students, andhelpswithHK’sparticipation
in theUniversity’s fall and springacademicopenhouses.
“Several current students are inour programbecause theymet
Adriana inTorontoandwere so impressed that theydecided togive
Windsor a serious look,” saysWayneMarino,
former associatedeanof the faculty.
After graduation, Baggio intends to
pursueadegree innaturopathicmedicine.
“Mymaingoal isnaturopathicmedicine,
but it has a long road touniversal acceptance
as ahealthcarefieldandas aprofession for
naturopathicdoctors.”
Naturopathicmedicine is acomplementary
alternativemedicine that blendsmodern scientificknowledgewith
traditional andnatural formsof medicine. She says that diet and
exercisecanprovideanexcellent non-pharmacological approach to
chronicdiseases, but that it stillwarrants further academic research.
“I’ve learned throughoutmy four years that research is ahuge
component of our faculty,” she says. “Youdon’t necessarily thinkof
researchwhenyou’recoming intouniversity, but youfindout how
important it is toyour studying.”
Baggiohopes toutilizewhat she learns tomakeadifference.
“I amextremelypassionateabout givingback. Andwhether that’s
onaglobal level likeNicaraguaor givingback to
my faculty, Iwill alwaysput a thousandper cent intoeverything
that I do.”
n
v
DarkoMilenkovic isasecond-yearstudent in theUniversityofWindsorDigital
Journalismprogram.Hehasalsowritten for
TheLance
student newspaper.
Moved toMakeaDifference
AdrianaBaggio
STUDENT PROFILE
BYDARKOMILENKOVIC
“IAMEXTREMELY
PASSIONATEABOUT
GIVINGBACK.”
ADRIANABAGGIO
Opposite: AdrianaBaggio inNicaraguawithanew friend.
