Meet Niklas Nyblom: Recent Keiser graduate and swim team captain
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former captain of the Keiser University Swimming and Diving team and recent graduate, Niklas Nyblom sits in his family home in Sweden as he talks over a video call about his life journey, how he ended up in West Palm Beach at Keiser University, and his plans post-graduation. The backdrop is a wall of medals from swimming competitions that he has been collecting since he was 13 years old.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice for me to be home, to wake up here and see those medals that I earned. It鈥檚 something to be proud of each day,鈥� Niklas says with a big smile.
Born in Japan but moved to Sweden at the age of two, Niklas鈥� whole life has been spent balancing cultures.
鈥淕rowing up, I went to school six days a week. Five of those days were in a Swedish school, and the sixth day was in a Japanese school. I speak Japanese, Swedish, and English.鈥�
This same discipline brought Niklas to the pool. He started swimming at the age of six and began morning practice before school by the age of nine.
After his high school graduation, Niklas took a gap year. He traveled to Japan for two months, deleted his social media accounts, and focused on himself. In this soul-searching process, Niklas took an online course at a Swedish university in Psychology, and it was so fascinating that he realized the field would be perfect for him.
鈥淚 became more and more interested in psychology because I love talking to people; that鈥檚 when I realized this field was perfect for me.鈥�
Swimming was the reason Niklas came to study at Keiser University. He won three NAIA National titles with Keiser and was captain of the team for two of them.
Swimming has also taught Niklas to hold himself accountable: 鈥淚f you swim badly, it’s on you, not on anyone else.鈥�
Being captain was a great opportunity for Niklas to use the psychology skills that he was developing throughout his studies.
鈥淚 asked the professor of Sports Psychology at Keiser, Dr. Franklin … he gave me so many good ideas on how to use psychology while working with the rest of the team.鈥�
Another professor of Psychology, Dr. Marie LaBranche, said that what she enjoyed most about Niklas was 鈥渉is enthusiasm for almost every one of his psychology classes. He would often leave saying, 鈥楾his is the best class I鈥檝e ever taken.鈥� Then I would remind him that he says that for almost every class! It鈥檚 a pleasure to teach a student who has such real passion for the field.鈥�
Niklas had many memorable moments and highlights to share from his time at Keiser. He was heavily involved in student academic life, serving as the president of the psychology club, a peer tutor in the Keiser Library, a finalist in Keiser鈥檚 Shark Tank competition, and won Keiser鈥檚 research symposium of 2023.
Niklas graduated from Keiser in April this year and is currently attending Teachers College, the School of Education and Psychology at Columbia University. While at Columbia鈥攁 very prestigious school鈥擭iklas plans to earn his Master of Arts degree in Psychology in Education to prepare himself for a future PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Niklas speaks very highly of his time at Keiser, and of all the staff he interacted with there.
鈥淚 feel like one thing that I’m really proud of attending Keiser for is definitely all of the faculty members, the professors, everyone that works there, the Deans. I feel like they’re doing a great job at making every student be seen.鈥�
Dr. Joseph Clottey, another professor who taught Niklas reported that 鈥淣iklas was an exceptional student. He always asked great questions and always demonstrated critical thinking in all his assignments. It was a pleasure having Niklas as a student in my class and I know firsthand he will be an asset to any institution or organization.鈥�
It is very clear that Niklas is a wonderful role model and inspiration to any college athlete, international student, or psychology student. He has achieved great things so far and has a very exciting career and life ahead!
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