During my junior year of high school, I injured my foot in our last dress rehearsal for Southeast Alabama Dance Company's The Nutcracker.  I saw a physician who specialized in sports medicine and he made it very clear that I was at risk for further injury if I continued to  dance on it. Dancing was my entire life - My entire world. I didn’t know how to give it up.
I decided to do one last performance of The Nutcracker. I had been performing in The Nutcracker since I was 6 years old and I wanted to finish out my senior year and the last chance I had to be a part of this ballet that I loved so much. When that was over, I began to look into colleges and my career aspirations shifted. I wanted to do something to help those going through the same situation that I was dealing with. This is how I found athletic training.

One of the worst times in my life brought me to one of the best things in my life. Being an
athletic trainer is the best job in the world! I get to work with athletes in our local schools every day – through their good times and bad. But now, I get to provide that same help and
protection for these dancers. I know as well as anyone that dance is athleticism and artistry
combined. And I’m extremely lucky that HCA Florida: Gulf Coast Hospital feels the same way and is giving me the opportunity to support our local dancers.

Getting to be a part of Panama City Ballet’s The Nutcracker is extremely special for me. It’s like things have come full circle. The same ballet that I was participating in when I was injured is the same ballet that I get to cover as an athletic trainer.
So, here’s to a great (and injury free) Nutcracker season!