For Lydia Self, being a student-athlete not only defined her undergraduate experience at NKU, it enhanced it.

Originally from Noblesville, Indiana, Self stood out from her family of educators through her athleticism and desire to pursue exercise science and physical therapy. She chose NKU for its soccer program, but quickly found community in different areas across campus.

“What kept me here was the community and the way it felt like a home away from home,” she says. “Whether it was in school, through athletics, or in my faith, I was given the chance to not only grow but excel and accomplish things I never would have dreamed of.”

Another aspect of the Norse experience that stood out to Self was the magnitude of support offered by faculty inside and out of the Exercise Science program.

“NKU is full of faculty who are extremely supportive and truly want the best for their students,” she says. “They aren’t here to hammer us with information or weed us out. They do their absolute best to make sure that everyone that goes through the program succeeds and comes out better than when they came in.”

One professor that made a noteworthy impact on Self was Dr. Jenn Kaiser, professor of exercise science. She says Dr. Kaiser worked to build a relationship with each of her students, regardless of their circumstance.

“It wasn’t a transactional relationship where we did work and she gave us a grade,” she says. “She held our emotional and mental health as a priority and would check in on us no matter what our grade was.”

Though she was an active leader on campus through her involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Horizon League Student-Athlete Safety and Health Subcabinet of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and her work in the Adopt-A-Class program, Self says her favorite memories are the ones she made with her teammates on and off the soccer field.

“I don’t remember each goal or win, but I reflect and see the relationships and grit in the tough circumstances to overcome things,” she says. “None of my four years looked exactly the same, and I am better because of it.”  

For Self, walking across the graduation stage and accepting her degree is a culmination of all the work she put in to the last four years.

“Being a student-athlete isn’t easy,” she says. “It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work, sacrificing your social life or even just relaxing. But through that, I know I’ve gained countless qualities that will carry me through the next phase of life and beyond.”

After graduation, Self is looking forward to continuing her education in Indianapolis, through Indiana University’s Physical Therapy doctoral program. From there, she hopes to follow her passion and find a career in sports, helping athletes rehabilitate injuries and see them through the recovery process.