From straight Fs to success
It was almost too late, but Western student Aaron Beier turned his life around when it counted most and went from failure to flourishing.
By Amanda Jackman
Sitting in his dad’s office full of textbooks and papers, Aaron Beier looks back on a life almost wasted. “I was the kid in high school that didn’t take it very seriously. I spent a lot of time doing anything but schoolwork. I was almost a dropout."
It’s not an easy thing to admit for the now poised and ambitious Aaron, who is an undergraduate student finishing a degree in Clinical Kinesiology, as well as a research assistant. So, what changed? According to Aaron, “I was saved by the School Within a University program at Western. Full stop."
Dealing with anxiety and attendance issues in high school, Aaron couldn’t imagine a day where he would be successful. “I couldn’t regulate, I was focusing on the wrong things, staying up late, missing school. I had no ambition or goals. I couldn’t see anything for myself in 10 or 20 years. It was pretty frustrating for my parents. They couldn’t understand why I wasn’t able to see the opportunities in front of me.
Then, a switch flipped.
“I was at my prom in 2019 celebrating with people who were moving onto bigger things. They could all see their way forward and they knew which programs they were accepted to for post-secondary. I felt very left behind because of my poor choices. That same year, my dad was diagnosed with a rare cancer. I wanted to make sure he knew I was going to be able to take care of myself if anything happened to him."
Helping at risk students
Determined to catch up, Aaron completed two victory laps of high school, earning more credits and enrolled in the “life changing” School Within a University (SWAU) program at Western, a program he heard about from his guidance counsellor.
The SWAU program is a partnership between the university and the Thames Valley District School Board for students who are risking their post-secondary opportunities by not graduating high school. The program allows students to experience the university environment while earning credits at both the high school and university levels. The goal of the program is to ease the transition to university education while earning a high school diploma.
A life-long Londoner, with peers and family who attend and work at Western including his father Frank, the Chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, the choice was obvious to him. “The people I look up to are at Western. I know how connected and progressive the university is. The choice was easy."
While in the SWAU program Aaron’s life turned around – dramatically. “I felt something I hadn’t in a long time… hope."
Through the program, Aaron was able to graduate and envision a future. He went from late nights playing video games and staying in bed until noon, to jumping out of the covers excited to focus on his next big thing.
He also credits the programming at Western’s Parr Centre for Thriving for cultivating a new outlook on himself. “My learning at the Parr Centre, including Clifton Strengths®, helped me understand myself. I really grew and began to understand where I was falling short and why. It was enlightening to discover how I worked.”
The incredible gift of giving back
Aaron, currently in his fourth year, is studying clinical kinesiology with a focus on patient care and physical rehabilitation. Beyond his academic pursuits, he also works with student-athletes at Western, including the Mustangs football team where he helps treat injuries that occur on the field. “It’s important to me to use my knowledge to help others,” says Aaron.
Helping others is a theme with Aaron, who strives to accomplish that through volunteerism. “I’ve had incredible opportunities to give back. I’ve volunteered in the community, at a hospital as a research assistant, I’ve been on student council and even helped run medical care for youth triple-A football.” At Western, he volunteered as an orientation leader, quickly advancing to a supervisor role managing 90 student leaders for two years. He has over 1000 hours in volunteer service including his student therapy position with Western’s varsity athletes. “I’ve been so fortunate to give back to the community. But I recognize that I have also received a lot."
Aaron was the recipient of the Joyce Family Foundation Continuing Award which is provided to students who go on to university following SWAU. It was just the leg-up he needed and helped to push him further. “The fact that a donor has given to Western, and to this program to help students who are struggling to find their value and their place in this world is such an inspiration and a huge motivator."
The award provided Aaron with continued funding for all four years of his undergrad. “The scholarship was instrumental. I couldn’t commit to my schooling or volunteering without it.”
The impact of his award also hit closer to home. “It was important to me when my dad was diagnosed that I would be able to follow in his academic footsteps and make something of myself. I’m really lucky that he gets to see me graduate and be so intertwined with the community after everything we’ve been through. That was a big milestone that was never guaranteed for us.”
One percent better each day
Beyond motivated, Aaron is completely on a roll as he gears up for additional schooling. “Having an award that gave me the time to focus on my future was instrumental. I was accepted to all five of the physical therapy programs I applied to, including a unique program at Western that combines physio school with a PhD! Western is on a slim list of Canadian universities that offer this opportunity,” says the enthusiastic student-clinician.
Aaron also received three competitive research grants from the Bone and Joint Institute and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in 2024 and 2025 – each of which had hundreds of applications but only a handful of spots.
“It’s funny,” he smiles. “I now look at life differently. We have the same amount of time in the day no matter what. I could be relaxing, or I could be striving to be a better person. That’s what I try to do, strive to be 1% better each day. It’s important to have a purpose. I want to take advantage of the time I have to maximize my potential and redefine my limits. It’s my goal to be a pillar in the community.”
Joking about spending more time at Western than at home, Aaron is in awe that he was able to turn his life around to such a degree. “It’s hard to share the side of myself that I’m ashamed of. I’m not proud of my earlier choices but I want to share my story in hopes that another student may read this and know it is absolutely possible to lean on yourself, trust yourself and to find the right supports to turn your downfalls into accomplishments. It’s never, ever, too late.”
