My Journey to Pursuing a Kinesiology Degree by Olivia

My Journey to Pursuing a Kinesiology Degree by Olivia - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I am currently a first-year student at the University of Central Florida where I have begun the track to pursuing my dreams of becoming a sports medicine physician. I am considering physical therapy and athletic training but am still undecided which specific career path I would like to take. I am currently studying kinesiology/sports medicine and look forward to going onto medical school and getting a further degree. I feel that my days of playing soccer are not over yet, as I hope to continue to play club soccer at UCF. Playing soccer and flag football over the years certainly has influenced my career goals. During all my years of playing soccer, I had never experienced an injury setback where I physically could not play, until my junior year of high school. At the beginning of the year, I rolled my ankle and was out of soccer for a few months, followed by a broken finger in flag football about 5 months later where I was out for a month. This was new to me, and this was my first experience with doctors who practice in the field of medicine that I aspire to go into. They never hesitated to answer my endless questions and I trusted the treatment plan, knowing that this was the only way to get back on the field in little time, but fully healed. I had always wanted to be a pediatrician, but this was the turning point for me. Over the years, I have learned several different mental and physical attributes that come with being an athlete. I realized that being away from soccer was not an option, instead I will follow a career path around sports, and give back by helping athletes just like these doctors did for me. I think this is ultimately what made me realize that I wanted to be an athletic trainer. I wanted to give others the same amazing experience that I received when recovering from an injury. On another level, my academics have certainly prepared me for this field, as I took medical classes from 6th to 12th grade. I have always known I wanted to have a career within the medical field. I am in my freshman year of college and am taking two kinesiology track classes: human nutrition and personal fitness and wellness. I am enjoying these classes and am so excited for what’s to come on this track to success.
         If I had to describe how I see myself in 10 years, I would have to say that I have completed school and am pursuing my dreams of becoming one of the few female athletic trainers for an NFL or MLS team. I believe that I can make this happen with hard work and the needed time and effort. Thinking about the future is so motivational. Being able to plan out exact how I want my life to look is exactly what gives me the extra push to excel in school and really make my own career path. Sports medicine is something I truly enjoy and have a passion for. I don’t think I could ask for anything better than a job I love that gives back to others and makes an impact.