For current UPUA President Gavin Keirans to run, he first needed to fall.
The lessons Keirans (junior-business management) learned from a knee injury suffered while playing rugby during his senior year of high school stayed with the current president, who's running in the April 1 University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) elections.
The injury, Keirans said, ultimately changed his life's direction.
"It was the beginning of the game, and I thought I was going to score," he said. "Someone hit me on the side of the knee and I went down. It hurt and I couldn't walk -- I just knew it was part of my knee."
It wasn't until after the game that Keirans sought medical attention for the tear in his meniscus, he said. As a result of the injury, he said he decided not to pursue collegiate athletics.
"It really was the moment as to why I got involved in student government," Keirans said.
Gus Keirans watched his son fall from the sidelines, hoping the injury wouldn't ruin his kid's senior year.
"They were going for a score and they had this process where they all come together and push for control of the football, and it was at that point that he was hit," Gus said. "He continued on but had an injury."
Despite being knocked down, Keirans got back up. Though he'd be out for most of the remainder of the season, he still attended practices and games, helping lead the team through its season.
"I saw the effect of my leadership and I fell in love with it," he said, noting the team's successes even after he graduated high school. "It showed me that through leadership you can make a difference."
Upon his arrival at Penn State, Keirans joined Safeguard Old State and The Lion 90.7 FM before running a failed bid for UPUA president during his freshman year. Despite the setback, Keirans pursued student government's top spot a year later and ultimately prevailed.
As for his son's transformation from athlete to student leader, Gus said he couldn't be more proud.
"I really thought of it as a natural progression for him," Gus said of his son becoming a student leader at Penn State. "It intensified quicker than I thought, but you just had this sense that that was where he was going. He took off really quickly. He really found himself and really felt empowered -- there's a level of empowerment that he got in touch with that is really amazing."
Reflecting on his injury and how it changed him, Keirans said he has learned a lot.
"I realized that there were going to be obstacles and it was going to take time and commitment," he said.
Gus said his son "always looks at the positive side" of experiences and "doesn't allow blocks to inhibit him."
"He handles disappointments well," Gus said. "I think he gained a sense that when one door closes, another door opens."
