A Rewarding Life in Health
Story appeared in the 2019 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY HAYLEY PICARD, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ALUMNI SAM PASCOE (1997-2003)
Having strong family and community support systems are integral to a healthy life. For Sam Pascoe, when personal health issues arose in his first year of university studies, it was through the gathering of these groups that provided guidance, care, and a life experience that clarified a new career path.
Sam smiles shyly as he reminisces about his time at Queen Margaret’s School. “I loved QMS right from the beginning,” he says. “The combination of sports, arts and the awesome playground in the forest was great. Every employee was wonderful, from Stewart Hall (Former Junior School Principal) right through to the kitchen staff.” It was a family he felt part of and where he created a foundational belief in caring for others.
Following high school, Sam selected UBC Okanagan to pursue his interest in business and management. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I liked business,” he admits. “It wasn’t the program at UBCO, it was the location that drew me.” Yet, after only a single year of studies, Sam’s reality was flipped inside out when he experienced his first seizure. The unexpected event resulted in a broken shoulder and a diagnosis of epilepsy.
“I had surgery to repair my shoulder and moved home to rehabilitate. It helped that my mom is a doctor,” shares Pascoe. “I got into fitness and personal training for my own health, so I decided to enter the Bachelor of Athletic Exercise and Therapy Program at Camosun College.” Yet, life’s course is never a straight one, and another surprise challenged Sam to consider his career choice again. “We discovered that my epilepsy was triggered by blood,” sighs Sam. The revelation forced this QMS alumni to withdraw from the program, but his love of fitness was not to be thwarted. He quickly shifted gears, registering for the Bachelor of Sports and Fitness Leadership Program.
Focused on dealing with chronic conditions and supervised exercise, the kinesiology angle allowed Sam to continue studying in his area of interest. Graduating in April 2015 from Camosun, he moved with his girlfriend to the Lower Mainland to perform multiple streams of work with Livewell Exercise Clinic and F45 Training.
Witnessing real and positive change in his clients’ lives has been extremely rewarding for Sam. “When clients come off diabetic, blood thinner or cardiac medications, it takes time to understand how to help them. We may never resolve the root issue, but returning people to their quality of life is great.”
“The amount of stress on these patients is astonishing,” he continues. “Relationships built through trust create a rapport that can help reveal more symptoms, ultimately helping mitigate them. We’re both smiling by the end of the day and that’s why they come back and I like what I do.”
Sam plans to direct his career trajectory back towards his love for business by pursuing a Clinic Director Position with Live Well and maybe even return to the Island. Although Pascoe’s path may have been influenced by epilepsy, he embraces opportunities with a clear sense of purpose and lives life on his own terms.