Ep.09 - Kennedy Williams - Comfort and Peace

On this episode of Appalachian Outdoorosity, Dr. Becki Battista a professor in App State's Department of Public Health and Exercise Science, interviews App State Exercise Science and Chemistry Alumna, Kennedy Williams about her journey toward gaining confidence and finding peace outdoors. 

 

Show Notes

App State HOPE Lab Resource Page https://hopelab.appstate.edu/resources

App State Student Orientation Undergraduate Leaders (SOUL) https://orientation.appstate.edu/workfororientation/soul

App State Outdoor Programs https://urec.appstate.edu/outdoor-programs

Campus Nature Rx Network https://www.campusnature.com/home

Hikes mentioned that are located along the Blue Ridge Parkway Linville Gorge and Falls https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/poi/linville-falls/

Rough Ridge Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway Info - This is an awesome trail to hike!

The Rough Ridge Trail is part of the Tanawa Trail. There is a parking area along the Blue Ridge Parkway called Rough Ridge - around mile post 303.  See the map below for the entire section of the Tanawa Hiking Trail.   https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/tanawha-trail.htm

 

Contact Information:

instagram username: @kennedyalaina1

 

 

Transcript

Joy James

Welcome to Appalachian Outdoorosity, where we encourage you to get outside and keep going outside. Here we will share App State stories that entertain, inspire and inform listeners about living an active outdoor lifestyle. Each episode features a story with the goal to get you outside and keep you going outside to improve your overall wellness. This podcast is presented by the Hope Lab, where our purpose is to investigate the role of outdoor physical activity, exercise and play on health, the environment and human development.

 

Joy James

The vision of the Hope Lab is to continue developing a foundation for promoting and supporting outdoor physical activity, exercise and play through interdisciplinary research. Feel free to check us out at Hope Lab App State Dot Edu. Hi, my name is Joy James. I'm a professor of recreation management at App State and I love getting outside. I'm your host for the Appalachian Outdoorosity Podcast today.

 

Joy James

On today's episode, team member Dr. Becky Battista, a professor of exercise science, interviews 2023 App State alumni, Kennedy Williams. Kennedy tells us about her adventures in the outdoors and how she took a few chances and stepped outside her comfort zone, got a job with URec’s outdoor programs and found nature and the outdoors to be a big part of her experience at App State.

 

Joy James

Today's episode is brought to you by the Hope Lab. One of the goals of the Hope Lab is to find ways to get people outside. Going out with a group on a hike is one way to gain skills and connect with others. Finding someone who's more experienced in the activity is often helpful as it begins to let you learn from them, regardless of what activity you choose to do outside.

 

Joy James

Just being outside can provide many benefits. Visit Hope Lab App State that edu to learn more about the benefits of being outside.

 

Becki Battista 

Welcome to our Outdoorosity podcast. So I am Becky Battista Kennedy. We'd like to welcome you. This is Kennedy Williams and she's here to talk to us about her experiences in the outdoors. So first, Kennedy, introduce yourself. Tell us why you chose app states and what your favorite outdoor activity might be.

 

Kennedy Williams

Well, I want to firstly start with thank you for inviting me to a podcast. I'm a senior here at Appalachian State University studying Exercise Science and chemistry. I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina, originally, and what inspired me to come to Boone, to Appalachian specifically, was my scholarship. Initially, Appalachian State was at the bottom of my list because I was unfamiliar with the area.

Kennedy Williams

I didn't know what the area consisted of and it was very rural compared to what I was used to. So I would say my scholarship is what reeled me in and the scenery is what kept me here.

 

Becki Battista 

So what are some things that you have enjoyed or after your freshman year? What made you want to stay?

 

Kennedy Williams

Well, I realized that there's a different culture around Appalachian as a whole and something that I've never seen before prior to coming to App. So, I really