Even though the Department of Recreational Sports serves a large portion of Oregon State's population, there's a good chance you've seen Dawood Al-Abadi here before. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Dawood moved to Corvallis when he was twenty to pursue an engineering degree, but has since switched to finance. He sports a diverse range of passions, most of which revolve around physical activity, and Dixon Rec Center. "Rec Sports is great for me because I can lift, run, and play any sport there," he says. "It's convenient and perfect." Although Dawood's current interest is gymnastics, his favorite sport to play is badminton. "I try to learn a new sport every term," he says. "Physical activity is important to me because it makes me strong, fit, and healthy."
Dawood's greatest passion since moving to Corvallis has been the outdoors. "I didn't like hiking and nature until I came to Corvallis," he says, "but now, the outdoors brings me happiness and peace. In some ways, it's an escape from life."
Dawood tells a story of a special place for him - Crater Lake - and two chance meetings he had there one winter day. The first was on the drive when he came across a couple struggling to change a flat tire. "It was cold and snowy," he says, "so I stopped to help them. A few days later, I got a text from the man, who had sent me a picture of himself proposing to his girlfriend at Crater Lake. It meant a lot to me to be able to help them on their way to such an important moment in their lives."