Posted on October 8, 2026 by Natalia Vazquez Felgueres
Delaney Stevens sums up her college experience in three words: inspirational, memorable, and rewarding.
Delaney Stevens
Stevens’ dedication to movement has shaped her journey from student athletic trainer to aspiring pediatric physical therapist, but the community she found along the way helped make that journey possible.
Reflecting on college life, she says, “I think what surprised me the most about college life is how valuable friendships can be.” She later connects those friendships to the challenges of college, explaining, “college is filled with days of your biggest wins and sometimes your biggest losses, so always remember to express gratitude for something or someone in your life.”
As a high school student athletic trainer, Delaney discovered an early interest in physical therapy and knew kinesiology would give her the foundation to pursue it. After touring UT San Antonio three times, she was drawn to the university’s extensive support system and strong kinesiology department. Those opportunities, along with an acceptance to the honor’s college ultimately led her to choose UT San Antonio.
Just as important, she quickly learned the value of finding her people. On her first night in her residence hall, she knocked on her neighbor’s door and introduced herself. Those neighbors became some of her closest friends and helped make college feel “much more manageable and fun.”
That sense of community continued throughout Delaney’s time at UT San Antonio. As the HCAP Student Success Center’s (HCAP SSC) Marketing Coordinator and Peer Mentor, she spent three years supporting fellow students while helping create events and programs that will continue after her graduation. She credits Heather Frazer, the HCAP SSC Associate Director, as an important source of inspiration for her “leadership, care and dedication” to her student employees.
The experience gave her opportunities to grow personally and professionally while building connections across her college, but at one point, the pressure made it feel like she was drowning “I think my biggest challenge was navigating balance and finding my own personal limits” she shared. After a semester of hard classes and a big project at the HCAP SSC, she almost burned out. “Sometimes you must learn your limits the hard way, but I am stronger and more resilient for surviving that semester.”
Delaney’s passion for kinesiology became even more tangible during her internship at a pediatric therapy clinic. “Instead of just being in lectures” she said, “I got to get some real-world experience in my favorite specialty.” Working directly with patients confirmed her goal of becoming a pediatric physical therapist and reminded her that she was on the right path.
This fall, Delaney began her Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Texas Woman’s University in Houston. As she looks ahead, she hopes to continue promoting her belief that “movement is medicine” and carry the community she found at UT San Antonio with her.
— Natalia Vazquez Felgueres
HCAP Marketing & Communications
