Aspen Karns
My Overall Experience at IU Indy
Throughout the past 4 years of my experience at IU Indianapolis, I am happy to say that I've gotten a good blend of everything campus has to offer. I have been involved in some clubs and held some positions: Xiphos Corps, Pre-Physical Therapy Club, Exercise Is Medicine, and the Active Communities Research Collaborative. I have rowed for IUI Kinesiology for Regatta in 2022 and conducted undergraduate research for a semester in 2023. With Xiphos, I have performed at on-campus events such as Jagathon and Regatta. Throughout my years in school, I have worked at the Campus Center, worked as a research assistant at University Hospital, and as a rehabilitation aide at Athletico Physical Therapy. Overall, I think my experiences have made me incredibly well rounded and have prepared me for physical therapy school.
My Involvement & Impact
Directing for Xiphos Corps
Vice President of Pre-PT Club
Directing for Xiphos Corps has taught me how to work with others, develop and apply my leadership skills, and allowed me to meet many different types of people from many different backgrounds and perspectives.
Being the Vice President of the Pre-Physical Therapy club has allowed me to make tons of connections to other Pre-Physical Therapy majors and has allowed me to teach others how to prepare for applying to physical therapy school. This position has taught me how to be an exceptional communicator to Pre-Physical Therapy students, my board, professors, and outside parties when we would schedule and host events such as PTCAs walkthroughs, coffee shop study sessions, and destress events. Additionally, I have learned how to be a leader and an example for Pre-Physical Therapy students, and supporting the President of the club.
Active Communities Research Collaborative
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The Active Communities Research Collaborative helps facilitate the monthly presentations on currently Health and Wellness, Fitness, and Kinesiology topics and research. As part of the collaborative, I help give a student perspective on what topics they would be interested in and help pick professors and topics to present. The board would meet twice a semester to plan out the presentation topics, and I would be the voice of the student body to help determine what the student body would like to see in these presentations and how to make them more informative and helpful for students. This experience has taught me how to communicate in a way for it to make sense to Kinesiology professors and how to give my honest thoughts to help make decisions on the topics of the monthly presentations.