Class of 2018: 'I am more efficient when I have more to do'

How on earth did Jamie Kolodinsky find the time to not only study for two simultaneous undergraduate degrees, but to also compete in track and field as a varsity athlete?

She sometimes wonders about that, too.

 “I’ve had days where it was just like, ‘All right, I don’t need to get an A in every class,’” says the 23-year-old. “I would wonder why I was doing so much stuff, and it could be stressful and chaotic, but I always come back to when I finally get some time off — I’m bored.”

Along with a BA in geography, Kolodinsky will be graduating June 7 with a BSc in environmental science with a concentration in biology through the Faculty of Science. She managed that feat while being a member of the University of Calgary Athletics Club and the Dinos Varsity Track and Field team, earning honours that range from being a Canada Games silver medallist to a triple medallist at the Western Canada Summer Games.

European cities inspire career direction

Originally a competitor in the high jump and long jump events, Kolodinsky decided to become a pentathlete this year. She now also does hurdles, shot put and the 800-metre race.

Did Kolodinsky mention she has a part-time job at the university’s Outdoor Centre? “I am more efficient when I have more to do,” she says.

She hopes to use her two degrees to carve out a career exploring how sustainability and renewable energy can be incorporated into city planning. She was inspired by a summer field school she did through the university, visiting cities in European countries such as Norway, Germany and Spain.

“I looked at what they have in terms of solar power and recycling in cities, and gardens within the city for growing food instead of huge corporations bringing it in,” she says. “In Canada, we have more space than in Europe, so we can have big cities with sprawl and cars everywhere, whereas in Europe, there are a lot of city designs that only allow pedestrian traffic downtown.”

Making the most of her time as she builds her career likely won’t be a problem. Apart from her first year in 2012 at the university, when a training injury forced her to take a break from athletics, she has taken on as many challenges as possible.

Bus stuck in snowstorm, team still makes the most of their time

“I train in track and field for two hours per day for five or six days a week each summer, fall and winter,” she says. “I do as much homework in the morning in class as I can. Practice is usually in the afternoon, and I train in the evening, but I also try to shove in as much homework, cooking and grocery shopping as I can."

Such a schedule doesn’t begin to cover her travels around Canada and the U.S. to attend competitions. A trip home from the state of Washington that was supposed to take 10 hours ended up totalling 17 hours after a bus broke down in the U.S., forcing her team to wait for a replacement bus during Superbowl Sunday.

Due to the improvised arrangements, the team had to transfer to a third bus at the Canadian border, which then became stuck during a snowstorm that closed the highway. “We got out and had a huge snowball fight,” says Kolodinsky, laughing.

Her advice to other students? “Take as many opportunities as you can,” she says. “I was really glad to take the field school that I did. Meet people and do things. There are so many events and clubs, and so much going on.”