Posted on December 5, 2024 by
Jacob Espinoza is graduating with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Health Science. Originally a student studying forensic science at San Antonio College, he decided to transfer into UTSA after sustaining a wrist injury and becoming interested in rehabilitation.
What made you decide to attend UTSA?
As a first-generation student, the day I decided that I wanted to attend UTSA was when I watched my sister walk the stage during her commencement ceremony back in 2018. At the time, I was attending San Antonio College, so I wasn’t too sure where I wanted to transfer to when I finished my program. Watching her graduate from UTSA is what made me commit to becoming a roadrunner.
What made you choose your major?
I’ve always enjoyed learning about the sciences. I originally planned to major in forensic science but switched to a focus in astronomy at San Antonio College. Not too long into the program, I learned about kinesiology when I had to rehabilitate a wrist injury. At the time I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to pursue an astronomy degree because I didn’t know how I could use what I learned to give back to our community. I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to take two kinesiology courses and see what it was about. I ended up really enjoying the courses, so I checked to see if UTSA offered a kinesiology program and, sure enough, they did. At the end of the semester, I made my decision to apply to UTSA and major in kinesiology.
What accomplishment are you most proud of from your time in college?
My proudest accomplishment was being able to overcome my social anxiety. I was always afraid to talk to people and frequently passed up opportunities because I was afraid to get out of my comfort zone. One day I just decided that I didn’t want to be that person anymore. Over a year later, I have taken on leadership opportunities, gained experience in research, organized and executed events and presentations, attended professional development workshops and so much more. The skills, advice and guidance that I’ve acquired from these experiences have influenced most of my decisions in college. I highly encourage students to get out of their comfort zone and take on opportunities that come their way.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your college years, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I have always faced was time management. As a freshman, I had no idea how to manage my time, so I struggled to keep up with classwork. It was so difficult for me that I had to be part-time and chose not work. Fast forward to Fall 2024, I successfully managed my last four classes while being a student ambassador for HCAP and an active elite Pre-PT Society member. I also used my free time to put in observation hours at a rehabilitation hospital, and occasionally work at my part-time job on the weekends.
I learned that slowly adding one extra responsibility every semester helped increase my workload. At the end of each semester, I would evaluate how well I managed my time and looked for ways to improve. Everyone will be different in how they go about managing their time, but if there is one thing that I would recommend to everyone, it would be to utilize a digital calendar, such as Outlook Calendar. I track everything from my work and class schedule, meetings, personal time, and even homework due dates. It is also a great way to visualize my workload, which has served as a reminder of how much I’ve accomplished over any given period. This feature has been my motivation to stay productive and prevent procrastination.
If you could give advice to incoming students, what would it be?
My best piece of advice for new students is to never be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. It may be scary for new college students to talk to professors/classmates, give a presentation, attend your first event/workshop, or join an organization. I used to think that I could be successful in college just by attending and passing my classes, but I realized how important it is to get involved with the community. I believe the experience you gain outside the classroom is just as valuable as your degree, so don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. After all, “all progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” -Michael John Bobak
What are your post-graduation plans, if any?
My post-graduation plan is to be admitted into a Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) here in San Antonio. I will be taking a gap year so that I can continue to gain experience in various settings, study for the GRE, continue to self-study and financially prepare myself for graduate school.
How do you want to use your degree to make a difference in your community or field?
I want to use my degree to continue my education at the graduate level. Currently, my goal is to be admitted into a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) here in San Antonio. My dream down the line is to become a licensed PT and continue my education further so that I can become a leader in my field. It would be great to use my knowledge, along with my connections, to develop ways to promote healthier lifestyle choices for my community.
What’s one piece of advice that you received during college that you’ll carry with you?
This may be more of a lesson, but it’s something that I’ve carried with me throughout my time in college. During my time in community college, I had an economics professor that was strict on students who were late to class. He said that if you were ever late it was a result of “poor planning.” Whenever someone walked in late, he would ask why they were late, and the only acceptable response was poor planning. It may seem harsh but, if you think about the obstacles that make life harder, there is almost always something we have control of to make situations easier. I learned to take full responsibility when things didn’t work out rather than passing blame. When we place blame somewhere else, we are telling ourselves that there was nothing that we could’ve done to prevent a situation. When we take responsibility, even if there wasn’t anything that we could’ve done to prevent an outcome, we develop wisdom and skills to quickly adapt to unforeseen circumstances that we all inevitably face in college.
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