My Spark For Change In Health by Kegan

My Spark For Change In Health by Kegan - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

My educational aspirations in exercise science grew from a deep desire to understand how the physiology and biological components of my body could be trained to accelerate recovery and overcome injuries I sustained during sports. Growing up I was always a small, brittle kid. After experiencing a series of injuries—from sprained ankles and a fractured pelvis to pulled and torn muscles —all before high school, setbacks in my athletic career were common. Feeling defeated and lost as to what path to take, my curiosity about the human body sparked and transformed into a burning passion for learning how to unlock its full potential. Inevitably, I began studying the specific movements and supplements I could take to ultimately gain a competitive advantage in the most natural way. As I began my extensive journey I found myself becoming obsessed with the process. My journey from feeling physically underestimated to hopefully becoming a future advocate for fitness and performance means more to me than anything—it's a profound exploration of how overcoming perceived limitations in my life drives a lifelong dedication to understanding and optimizing everyone's potential around me.Sports taught me a lot of things that I intend to bring with me into college, for example, the lesson about purpose. This mindset has equipped me to tackle life’s challenges with confidence. In the early days of my football career, I often found myself questioning why I was putting in so much effort: for seemingly no reason. However, the sport taught me that every action, every drill, each practice, and each game all contributes to a larger goal, reinforcing the idea that preparation has intrinsic value. This understanding has translated into my academic pursuits, motivating me to engage with my studies more purposefully. Another major lesson learned through football is the lessons of resilience, commitment, and sacrifice. Facing setbacks is a part of the game, and I’ve learned to embrace criticism as a tool for growth. Using these tools and lessons I have learned early on in life, my goal is to continue studying exercise science and deepen my understanding of performance enhancement and injury prevention; in hopes of one day developing or employing effective strategies aimed for better long term health and injury resilience of athletes. Overall, meaning that I want to become a physical therapist or athletic trainer, who studies consistently to discover new and effective strategies to support those around him, so they never feel as lost and broken as he did.