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Washington State University
College of Education

Getting to Know You: Daniel Delgado

Daniel Delgado — Kinesiology undergraduate student Q&A

Hometown: Yakima Valley, Washington

Year: Junior

As a first generation student, was it daunting coming here to WSU?
At first it was daunting. I was nervous, I didn’t know what to do. But through the First Scholars scholarship program, it really helped me to not be scared of going to class and figuring out everything. I had no idea what financial aid was, I didn’t know what any of the process was, I didn’t even know how to get books and stuff. Just going through that program helped me, but I also had a lot of mentors. I knew a lot of juniors and seniors in my frat that guided me. Also, my best friend was here for a year already so he had figured out everything. I did have a lot of help.

Was pursuing kinesiology always your plan?
I had a completely different interest (coming in to WSU). All of high school I had been told I’m really good at math and science, so they said I should be an engineer. So the whole four years of high school I heard “Engineer, engineer, engineer,” so I thought I was going to be an engineer. I got here, and I was in engineering for a whole year and I hated it. I was so bored in class, and classes weren’t that bad, I just didn’t like it. I couldn’t see myself doing that for the rest of my life. Then one of my friends from the First Scholars program, she’s kind of a mentor, she told me “You know you like kines, just go do kines.” She was a kines major, and I was just pushing it off because I was scared about what I would do with kines – Train? Be a coach? I didn’t know anything about it. So she took me to a couple of the kines club meetings and I figured out all the career paths. I took two kines classes and I was hooked. Now I go to class and I actually enjoy class. Everything I learn, I love it.

Are you involved in any clubs on campus?
I’m part of kinesiology club, and I’m part of the Core group too, so we’re the ones that actually organize the meetings and plan out what we’re actually going to show to the kinesiology students. This way, they can get a sense of what this field is about and overall just see what the opportunities are in the department here. I’m part of the McNair Achievement Program, which is going to prepare me for grad school. And then I’m also a First Scholar, a scholarship program for first-generation students that helps me get involved because it’s both semi-professionalism and overall just a good program. And then I’m also part of a frat, so multicultural Greek, I’m Sigma Lambda Beta. With that one I get really involved with community service. Right now I’m trying to combine the kines club and SLB, and we’re trying to do some community service together.

What’s one piece of advice you have for people who are new to the program?
Get involved. Utilize the resources that our deparment gives, whether it be the staff and faculty, or overall just getting involved in the different opportunities in the program like club meetings, the fundraisers that we do, and community service. We try to get the department to intermingle. You’re going to be with these people for the next four years in class or just hanging out. Go up to them, talk to them. Get involved overall because at the end of the day they’re the ones that are helping you out.

Favorites

Food: Homemade Sopas

Music Group: Daft Punk

Sport: Football (Watch) Soccer (Play)

Athlete: Michael Jordan

Movie: Fast and Furious series

Happy Place: My friends