Learning at his own pace let Bryan Barnett succeed in school and in sports
Three-time Olympian and dual-sport athlete (track and field and bobsledding) Bryan Barnett recently achieved another milestone: graduating from Athabasca University's Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Accounting program. We chatted with Bartnett recently about his favourite Olympic memories, his decision to attend AU, and his plans for life after sport.
What has your experience with online learning been like?
Bryan Barnett: It's been great because I think that's how I learn best. Because I was so focused on sport, I didn't do well in high school. From 2013 to 2015, I had to redo high school through Bow Valley College where you go to a classroom and there are a couple teachers for each subject and you kind of just learn on your own. I was super good at that.
Way back when I was younger, I was put into a special-needs class because I was falling behind in class. I ended up catching up several math levels in one year and was back into normal stream within a year because I was learning on my own. That is how I learn best.
What made you choose online learning at AU?
I got into an engineering program at another university, but then when I got there, I didn't understand anything. My whole university experience was like, "What is this?" I found it hard to grasp anything.
After two years, I was like, "I'm done with school. I'm going back to sport." I ended up going online and stumbled upon AU. I'm like, “OK. This makes sense again.”
I control what I do, I work at my own pace. There are some days when all I focus on is studying—like for 10 hours a day—and there are other days when I don't want to do anything. I can do what I want to do. Turns out online learning is how I learn best and the only way I could continue sport and do any kind of education.
What was it about the BComm program that excited you?
I've always been good with math, numbers, and problem-solving so, I just figured, why not try accounting? My head was still really in sport, but I knew that I needed to take care of life after sports.
You're a three-time competitor in the Olympics. Can you share your favourite memory from those competitions?
The most memorable moment was at the 2008 Olympics, watching Usain Bolt break the world record the way he did. No one's ever done it like he's done. He won with so much ease, it's just fun to watch.
You've competed in sports for so long. Was it hard to make the transition from sports to the classroom?
I feel like school kind of helped bridge the gap, it helped transition away. In sports, you're extremely focused on one thing. You’re goal-setting to do all these things. Your days are super structured.
School, especially online learning, has to be that way as well because you have to make sure you keep on top of things. You have to make sure you have a weekly, monthly, yearly plan. So it kind of helped me deal with that.
I think a lot of athletes, they kind of leave sport and lack purpose or they kind of miss that structure, that goal-orientated mindset. School fulfilled that completely.
Do you have any advice for athletes who want to pursue post-secondary education?
Choose AU. It worked for me because you can completely control what you're doing. A lot of the skills I already have from sports transfer over.
What's next for you?
More school. I'm finishing up my last assignment to get into the CPA program.