Raiya Taha Thomure says coming to the University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education was pure luck. They started off as an architecture major at California Polytechnic State University, switching into kinesiology as a major in their second semester. By then, they already knew they wanted to transfer out of the university and Canada was the only place accepting second year transfers.
“Comparing my options, the kin program at U of T was completely unmatched in terms of opportunities and resources, so it ended up being the only school I applied to - and thankfully got in,” says Thomure.
Describing the program as academically rigorous, they say it also provided them with a range of learning opportunities.
“Being able to have hands-on opportunities like anatomy labs or outdoor experiential learning opportunities really made me feel like an active agent in my own education,” says Thomure.
With that feeling of agency, was also the knowledge that they were supported by those around them.
“As I went through as an upper year student, I also came to develop strong relationships with my professors and other members of staff and faculty, which is truly the highlight of my time here in KPE.”
Thomure, who identifies as queer, Arab and Muslim, says that coming into KPE, they were craving more co-curricular programming that made explicit space for them to thrive in their identities.
“I feel lucky to have had the opportunities through student government like the KPE undergraduate association (KPEUA) and the support of folks like Associate Professor Ashley Stirling, vice dean of academic affairs, to be able to create that programming not just for myself but for the other queer and trans students in the faculty,” says Thomure. “A unique aspect of the KPE program is the ability to make change at institutional levels even as undergraduates.”
Thomure says they will be celebrating convocation by having as much time with their parents and sibling as possible. As for next steps, they’ll be taking a bit of a break to work in research for the next year, preferably in a similar area to their undergraduate research in gender-based violence and queer theory. After that, they hope to return to the Faculty either as a masters or direct-entry PhD student.
Their advice for new students is simple: “If you face an inequity in our faculty, advocate for yourself. This faculty is filled with folks who have such a strong desire to make change in ways that are beyond performative.”
Their best tip? “Join leadership positions like KPEUA or KINections, and find those people who will support you in making that change.”