Pop! by Khandez

Pop! by Khandez - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

I misaligned my spine and almost paralyzed myself when I was 10. I was stuck with this guilt and pain that went untreated because I didn’t want to tell my mother I was practicing what I had learned from gymnastics without a spotter. Since recovering, I developed a keen interest in the mechanics of the body and sports medicine. Growing up, I was rarely involved in sports and when I began I wasn't naturally good, even though most of my family went Division 1. This changed in high school, where I competed in 3 varsity sports, and played each of which through strained muscles, fractures, and ligaments.
Trying sports to get out of my comfort zone piqued my interest in the behind the scenes of an athlete's performance and how they push their body to the limit and stay healthy, or recover from an injury. It led me to take the sports medicine and kinesiology classes my school offers. I then asked the athletic trainer to volunteer and learn from him every day after school. Later, I gained an internship with a program with Cedar Sinai, who works with the athletes on my campus in various sports. While in this program I became president of my schools section of the program during this I was able to further my knowledge in the subject, and receive guidance from different people in the sports medicine field. I also attended a sports medicine mentorship camp with West Coast during the summer. With different perspectives and guidance I was able to help my friend recognize what could have been a life changing injury if brought to her attention a day later. The severity of that situation inspired me to want to be that person for other people to, so they dot have to feel like they can’t speak up about their body.
With all these different influences in my learning thus far, a common factor has been listening for pops and cracks. The crack in my back all those years ago pushed me to learn more about sports performance and rehabilitation. This interest grew into a passion which I want to pursue in college and beyond. I plan to pursue a kinesiology degree then later attend physical therapy school. I’m open-minded about wherever my future takes me, but one thing I'm sure about is that I want my future to have a part in sports medicine helping athletes and people like my friend and I speak up.