Becoming UA Alum

From a former gymnast to Eller Alum, I can't wait to see what is in store!

Photo by FJ Gaylor

Four years later…I made it.

My time in college were the best years of my life (even though there were several difficult moments). Whenever I begin thinking about everything I’ve accomplished in college, I always reflect on my time as a gymnast for fourteen years prior to coming to the University of Arizona (UA). It’s funny, because sometimes I would say my gymnastics career were the best years of my life, but now the tables have turned. Gymnastics, and any other sport, teaches you hard work, discipline, teamwork, leadership, time management, and to never back down from a challenge.

My dedication, passion, and hard work as a gymnast translated into my college career. Even though I retired about four years ago, the sport will always be engrained in me.

About a year and a half ago, I attended a university-wide marketing conference with my supervisor, Amy Schmitz. The marketing conference focused on the art of storytelling. We had to complete a storytelling activity at our table where we had to explain a time in our lives where we wanted something but didn’t get it. This story had to be explained in sixty seconds, and here was my story:

When I was a gymnast, I wanted to do college gymnastics. That was my dream and ultimate goal. As I was completing my senior year in high school and had already been accepted to the UA, I was working really hard to try to become a walk-on on the UA gymnastics team. I wanted it so bad—but an unfortunate (but in a way fortunate) thing happened to me December 2014. I injured my ankle from gymnastics and had to have surgery. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me, and at that point in my life, I felt like the timing couldn’t be worse.

After my surgery, I actually had time to relax without having to go to gymnastics practice, which was VERY nice. Once my ankle was healed, I still wanted to do college gymnastics. As I gained my skills again, it came to a time where it was too late for me to become a college gymnast; and I started to accept the fact that I would not be continuing my gymnastics career in college.

My denial about being a college gymnast was gone, and I came to the realization that being in college would open up so many other opportunities for me. As I look back at my experience in college, I reflect on all of my accomplishments that I am so thankful for.

I became the first chapter president of UA’s Public Relations Student Society of America, and I was the Art Director and Secretary for the American Advertising Federation. I balanced my school work and club organizations with my part-time jobs working for the UA Bookstore, and in the marketing and communications departments for the Eller College of Management and Arizona Online. Sometimes I wonder if I was a college gymnast, if I would have even been a part of those wonderful experiences.

What I wanted in my life, was something that I did not need. I always wanted to be a college gymnast, but what I needed were different experiences in my life to help me grow and find my potential. As I move to the next stage of my life, I thank my family, friends, and supervisors for their unconditional support. I am excited and looking forward to the next journey ahead.

Stay tuned!

TSS