“Since the age of six I lived in the world of artistic sports gymnastics thinking of becoming a coach. Just before the graduation from secondary school my mother pointed out that I got along with my peers with disabilities, and advised that I think about the studies of adapted physical activity. I made the decision right away,” said LSU fourth-year student Mantė Jasilionytė.
Studies and favourite activities can definitely go together
While studying at LSU Mantė did not forget gymnastics, although she was not actively engaged in training. “Even in my first year of studies, I felt like I had made the right choice. I was attracted to specialty subjects and practical activities, as I could make use of what I know best – application of gymnastics elements for people with various disabilities,” said M. Jasilionytė.
As an active student, who was accustomed to sporting discipline from childhood, Mantė managed to combine the studies of adapted physical activity with work as a gymnastics coach in the circus. Mantė is glad to have gained experience working as a coach. “I trained gymnasts in Šakiai and participated in various festivals for several years. Here I shared the subtleties of gymnastics and could enjoy the pleasure of teaching.”
Studies in Wingate under a student exchange programme
Last year, following an unexpected lecturer’s offer to spend a semester in the Orde Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports (Israel) under the Erasmus Student Exchange Programme, Mantė made a decision to go there. “At first I was worried about the language barrier and different cultural environment, but the desire to test myself was stronger. It was not so easy during the first weeks. I was glad that my colleague, LSU Master’s degree student of kinesiotherapy, who lived in the adjoining room, was very helpful,” said Mantė.
After five months of studies at the Wingate Institute, Mantė stayed for two more. According to LSU student, Erasmus studies are not just about trips and parties, as students tend to think. “My studies of adapted physical activity were very intense. In addition to lectures, I had to listen to rather than read scientific articles and summarize them or put the method presented in practice,” shared her experience M. Jasilionytė.
At the Wingate Institute, an energetic LSU student returned to gymnastics. She engaged in volunteering activities and helped a gymnastics coach to train children. Mantė started to train again and, together with a group of gymnasts, prepared a programme. “Television filmed our show during a sports event at the Wingate Institute, and then suddenly I appeared on TV in Israel,” smiled LSU student.
In addition to gymnastics, Mantė found time for volunteering and helped children with cerebral palsy at the Sports Centre for the Disabled in Tel Aviv.
A wish to help people with intellectual disabilities
The closest Mantė’s plan is to successfully defend Bachelor’s thesis, which focuses on the availability of higher education studies for students with special needs in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Israel. Being such an active student, she is thinking about her future career as well. “During the studies, I have been trying to accumulate as much professional knowledge and skills as possible from really good specialty teachers, so I believe and feel that I can already work as a specialist in the field of adapted physical activity. Now my biggest dream is to enrol in Master’s degree studies in Child Development in Haifa, Israel. I would like to work in Lithuania and help children with intellectual disabilities after studies,” said M. Jasilionytė.
