My Words: Passion, Grit and Dedication

She planted the seed that grew into the job I have and love, but if our paths were to cross today I’m not certain she’d remember me.

Ten years ago I was student at Joliet Central High School, just outside Chicago, where I played soccer and volleyball and ran cross country. When I was injured during a soccer match, I became acquainted with the school’s athletic trainer, Liz Short.

At the time, she was the only certified AT for a school that currently has around 3,500 students and 26 sports, which means she had a lot of responsibilities and, you would think, little time for small talk. That was not the case.

It was the first and only time I was injured playing sports and I thought it was the end of the world even though it was your basic sprained ankle. I was in pain and thought I was never going to be able to play again.

But Liz assessed my situation and calmly, patiently talked me through it. She gave me some rehab exercises that helped me get back on the field sooner than I thought.

Liz reminded me of the grit my parents have always had. I became interested in athletic training because I wanted to make a difference when responsible for the health care of physically active individuals. My parents taught me the value of hard work not by their words, but by how they lived their lives.

My parents were born and raised in Mexico, but moved to the United States because they believed in the American Dream. They brought a love for family, a selfless attitude and an incredible work ethic with them and went about setting a tremendous example for their three children.

People like my parents aren’t typically aware of how much of a presence they have or how much of an inspiration they are. I want them to know how grateful I am for their efforts and sacrifices. They are the main reason I’m an athletic trainer with the University of Wisconsin men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs.

Liz was a big help, too. She may not remember who I am, but I’ll never forget her.

There may not be as much representation throughout this profession, which is why I believe it’s important to address this problem. One of the ways we can do that is by fostering diversity within institutions. This is when staff within an athletic department can truly make a difference through recruitment.

When I applied for the opening at Wisconsin, members of the hiring committee were very honest and transparent about the need for diversity. I got the impression that it was a priority and that has translated to action. The number of minorities on the athletic training staff has since doubled to four since I was hired 14 months ago, which are strides in the right direction.

I’ve come to believe that diversity matters here at UW. I feel included. I don’t feel like this is a space where I have to isolate myself with people who look like me. No matter where we come from, we work as a team in sports medicine and we truly inspire each other to be better.

However, it does feel great to see other people that look like me. It truly feels as though the UW Athletic Department is aware of where we’re at when it comes to hiring minorities. I wasn’t just a check mark. It feels good to say that I’m welcomed.

Our family has occupied the same small house in Joliet for 24 years. My grandparents lived with us, too. We’ve considered ourselves blessed because we’re healthy, safe and happy. That’s what matters.

I worked as hard as I could to get an education. Going to college was important enough to me that I convinced my parents to forgo paying for a quinceañera — a traditional celebration in the Spanish-speaking culture that recognizes the 15th birthday as the passing of a girl into womanhood — in order to put that money toward tuition.

My mom asked me to go to college close to home, so I enrolled at Lewis University, a small, private NCAA Division II school in nearby Romeoville. I knew I wanted a job that involve sports medicine, either athletic training or physical therapy. I’m very happy with the choice I made.

Staying close to home saved me a lot of money in the long term. I made a lot of friends and enjoyed my professors. I subsequently got my doctorate at the University of Idaho and spent two years in Texas interning at Lubbock Christian University.

Throughout my journey I’ve never forgotten what I learned from Liz Short. Having someone besides the coach looking out for you and your teammates is big. Having someone notice when you’re stressed — sensing drama in your life and caring enough to ask, “Hey, what’s going on with you today?”— can’t be measured.

Looking back on my high school career, my teammates and I knew Liz was a medical professional. Everything we had to deal with — the competition, the wins and losses, the pressures and the injuries — she was always there for us and it wasn’t just from a medical perspective.

Did you enjoy reading this? Read more My Words stories from the Badgers here.