Trystan St. Louis’s interest in health and physical therapy led him to pursue a master's in Kinesiology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
He attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria as an undergraduate and wanted to continue his education.
“I moved to Louisiana in 2018, and, over time, I’ve had the opportunity to network with many people and become more accustomed to the culture, weather, and lifestyle. After completing my Bachelor of Science at Louisiana State University at Alexandria, the idea of furthering my education while exploring another part of Louisiana became increasingly appealing.”
His experience at LSUA encouraged him to attend UL Lafayette for graduate school.
“One thing I would like to share about my experience at UL Lafayette is how welcoming and supportive the campus community was, especially as an international student. Adjusting to a new environment can be challenging, but the faculty and fellow students made it easier for me to feel at home.”
Advanced exercise physiology, taught by Dr. Scott Fuller was Trystan’s favorite graduate course. It related to his major and he enjoyed many presentations from researchers which helped him develop strong presentation skills.
He shared, “I had multiple opportunities to present, with the highlight being my oral presentation and role as a panelist at the College of Education and Human Development Student Research Symposium.”
He described the Kinesiology program as small but mighty.
Trystan said, “My favorite part of my program at UL Lafayette was how small the department was. This made it easier to connect with lecturers when experiencing various difficulties. It also allowed us graduate students in the department to assist each other in the ways that we could.”
The guidance and leadership he received from Dr. Fuller as a graduate assistant was rewarding.
He secured a student worker position in Dr. Kirwan’s lab at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. These insurmountable connections led Trystan to secure his current position as a research association and medical technician in Dr. Zha’s lab at Tulane Medical School Clinical Neuroscience Research Center in New Orleans.
On his journey, Trystan appreciates the experiences he gained at UL Lafayette.
“UL Lafayette provided me with a strong academic foundation and valuable networking opportunities that have been beneficial in my career at Tulane Medical School.
"The hands-on experience and research exposure I gained, particularly through faculty support and student events like research symposiums, helped me build confidence in my field.
"Additionally, the relationships I formed with professors and peers at UL Lafayette have created a network of connections that I continue to rely on for guidance and professional support, even after graduation.”
Soon, he hopes to continue professional and educational development. He wants to pursue a Ph.D. in Kinesiology or become a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy.
When asked what advice to share with incoming students he said, “My advice to incoming Kinesiology students is to take advantage of every opportunity to get hands-on experience, whether through internships, research projects, or volunteering. The field is highly practical, so the more real-world exposure you have, the better prepared you’ll be for your career.
"Also, build relationships with your professors and peers, they can be invaluable resources for guidance and networking as you progress. Lastly, stay open to exploring different career paths within the field, as it offers a wide range of possibilities.”
