Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
College of Education

Getting to Know You: Crystal Titzkowski

Crystal Titzkowski Crystal Titzkowski Crystal Titzkowski

Crystal Titzkowski — Sports Science

Home: Oak Harbor, WA

Year: Junior

What inspired you to pursue a degree in kinesiology?
I love taking care of others, and pursuing healthcare would be a great way to implement that. I find the concepts we learn within the program to be very useful for my and other people’s lives. I like how useful the knowledge is I gain.

Who, or what, influenced your decision to pursue this degree?
My high school athletic trainer. He taught me the basics of the field, and I really felt a pull to learn more.

What appeals to you most in this field?
The holistic approach, the thought that your health is much broader than just your physical “are you sick” health, but also takes into account your social, emotional, psychological, and environmental health. I also live the prevention way of approaching one’s health; rather than treating an injury or illness, there is a focus as to how one can prevent the injury or illness by just simply taking care of themselves. I think it’s great to view medicine as something more than just pills and procedures.

What makes this program special and what do you like most about the department?
I think the many opportunities that are presented make this program so unique. From the many leadership roles available to the research that undergraduates can partake in, really makes this program stand out. What I like most about the department is the care that the faculty provides to us students. I feel like I am able to get to know everyone in the department on a personal level, and I am able to ask them advice on things that don’t just pertain to the classes they teach. I feel like I am so much more than just a number on a scantron. I love feeling like I have home away from home!

Have you had any experience in this area, such as an internship?
My freshman year of college was spent at Seattle Pacific University, and I worked underneath the head athletic trainer. I helped with different rehabs and therapies. I helped with preseason training testing and stocking of equipment. I also worked with my high school athletic trainer doing similar things.

Do you have any advice for incoming freshmen pursuing this degree?
Be open to changing your goals. Explore your options and do what you are passionate about. Don’t let others convince you otherwise!

What, or who, motivates you as a student?
I don’t really know what motivates me to be honest. If it were anyone, it would be me. I think that it’s important to do things for yourself and not to let others pressure you into doing things you are not passionate about. I personally just really love the material we cover in class, and my drive to learn more about the subject really keeps me going.

What kind of extracurricular activities are you part of?
I am currently the secretary of the Kinesiology Club, ambassador for sports science, anatomy TA, and a team member of the Exercise Physiology and Performance labs.


Favorites:

  • Celebrity: John Mulaney
  • Book: “Love That Dog” by Sharon Creech
  • Artist: Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West
  • Song: Nights by Frank Ocean
  • Place to study: Coffee shops