Jessica Delgado '17 Recruiting Profile

As an athlete I thought I was invincible. I have played soccer since I was five years old. Our team was undefeated. In a semi-final game for the Regional Championship as I was dribbling the soccer ball I was tackled, which caused my ankle to twist. A woman came running and began to ask me questions about my ankle. I was taken out the game and she took off my sock, began touching my ankle, and observing if anything was broken. She said my ankle was swollen and she began to ice it. Afterwards she told me I was going to be out for two months and I will need to wear an ankle brace. She was an athletic trainer for the Chicago Red Stars women’s soccer team. She helped me during my recovery. We met once a week so I could complete special exercises to strengthen my ankle. I was devastated that I could not play soccer, but fascinated by my athletic trainer’s role. I saw each treatment and exercise as a learning experience. From my ankle injury I was inspired to learn about kinesiology and become a physical therapist.