Growing up with parents involved in sports medicine and athletic training, TJ Stefl (EXSC ‘25) often found himself at the dinner table discussing ACL reconstructive surgeries and how to repair a torn rotator cuff. While these might not be typical dinner topics in most households, for Stefl, it was completely normal. Participating in various sports throughout his life and taking high school classes on sports medicine and exercise science further fueled his curiosity, leading Stefl to choose exercise science as his major.
Throughout Stefl’s time at BYU, his focus has shifted outward to helping others. His professors, especially Dr. Jayson Gifford, have helped him realize his efforts can make a difference in people’s lives. “I’m fairly competitive, and so I like to win. In school, winning is getting high test scores and A’s,” Stefl explained. “But really winning is way more than that. It’s also helping people with the knowledge that you have.” Stefl is grateful for the opportunity he’s had as a TA to use his talents to help others.
While Stefl excels academically, it sometimes comes at the expense of other aspects of his life. Realizing BYU values more than just good grades, he started to focus on building relationships and getting involved in extracurricular activities. Some of Stefl’s favorite memories include taking student wellness (SWELL) classes and participating in intramural sports, including innertube water polo, soccer, and ultimate frisbee. “I think SWELL classes are a college hack,” he shared. “It’s like forced friends that do the same activity together.”
Stefl also had the opportunity to develop his leadership skills and connect with others by joining the Exercise Sciences Student Association. As part of the team that worked on online outreach, he helped create a new website for the Department of Exercise Sciences and run the department Instagram account. Now a leader in the EXSC student council association, Stefl really enjoys being involved and helping build a sense of community in the department.
One of Stefl’s highlights at BYU is how seamlessly the gospel is integrated into all aspects of the academic experience. It’s helped him strengthen his testimony and keep the gospel a main priority in his life, which is something he is very grateful for. Stefl advises incoming students to take SWELL classes to meet people and have fun. He also encourages them to not to be afraid to ask for help. Stefl emphasizes that receiving help in furthering your education is the purpose of college and urges students to start using the resources available to them as early as possible.
After graduation, Stefl plans to pursue a master’s degree in exercise science. He hopes to one day become a professor and conduct research, something he didn’t realize he could do until interacting with BYU professors.