Dal Tiger finds ecosystem of encouragement on and off the field

“It means a lot to people like me that are not from here to have this type of support coming into a new program and playing at the varsity level, which is very challenging,” says Kindo, who is the first student from his home country to attend Dal. 

To help maintain the balance of academics and athletics of Dal’s varsity athletes, the donor-supported Black and Gold Student Success Program offers resources to assist student-athletes in their journeys. Dal makes it mandatory for first years and optional for others to attend study skill seminars, study halls, sponsored tutoring and academic support.

The program, bolstered by donations from Tigers alumni, fans, and friends through the Adopt a Tiger program, helps students balance the life of a student-athlete and develop study and time management skills.

Making use of the program

When Kindo first joined the Tigers, he was not sure if he would be able to manage six courses while simultaneously training and travelling for soccer. Working with the university’s athletics department and the Black and Gold Student Success Program, the second-year student-athlete was able to establish a plan to manage his time. 

“I got a lot of tutoring through the athletics department. It made things a lot easier than I expected,” says Kindo, who is a junior project coordinator at Design Build Solutions and works for Dalhousie intramurals. “I have learned skills that I can use for the rest of my life.” 

Kindo accesses the program’s resources whenever he can, especially for classes he struggles with. Kindo recalls he needed help with three of his classes during the 2022-23 season and would meet with his tutor on campus after training up to three times a week.  

In October 2022, the Tigers played two games away against the Mount Allison Mounties. Kindo was having a tough time with school with exams approaching and a heavy course load. He asked Tigers soccer Head Coach Alan Jazic if he could be excused for the weekend to focus on school. Kindo was excused and was grateful for his coach.  

“When school becomes stressful, I approach my coaches and people around me. They provide a ton of help,” says Kindo. 

Finding community far from home

Coming to Halifax after living in Burkina Faso and the state of Georgia is no small undertaking. But Kindo has felt embraced by his teammates and coaches at Dal. “The way I talk to everybody, the way we care for each other; it’s almost like I never left home,” says Kindo. “These are people that I consider as my friends and almost brothers when we go on the field and fight together.” 

Not only have coaches and teammates assisted Kindo, but staff members beyond the soccer team have lent him a hand. Kindo says he can always rely upon Dal’s athletics staff. He used Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Tim Maloney as an example of the warmth he has received. When Kindo was dealing with a personal issue, Maloney was there for him. 

“I want to encourage more student-athletes at Dal to reach out to their coaches and people like Tim Maloney for anything they need,” says Kindo. “Do not stay silent if you are struggling. They always will offer their help and reach out to you.” 

The Tigers have helped Kindo feel comfortable on and off the field. Dal soccer team captain Luke Berryman was someone else Kindo says embraced him and made him feel at home. 

“I almost never felt alone in some sense. I always had somebody that I could talk to and somebody that I could relate to, and he made the transferring process a lot smoother,” says Kindo. 

Kindo’s success and dedication continues to impress Berryman.  “I’m increasingly surprised at how much he has on his plate and how successful he is at all that he does in his life,” says Berryman. The ecosystem of support from coaches, athletics staff, tutors, alumni donors, and teammates alike has had a profound impact on Kindo:

“The [Black and Gold Student Success Program] and athletics department has helped me and others, which I am very thankful for.”