Speaker: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast by the hosts and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Miami University.

Speaker: Freshman year I came in undecided.

Speaker: I'm finance, entrepreneurship, anthropology.

Speaker: I'm a senior architecture student.

Speaker: I'm involved in the blockchain club here.

Speaker: I'm very passionate about studying abroad.

Speaker: Classes are going great.

Speaker: And then obviously very involved with my sorority.

Speaker: I'm thriving.

Meredith Aliff 

Hi, I'm Meredith Aliff. And this is major insight. This is the podcast where we talk college life with amazing students about how to find your place and purpose on campus.

Avery Holmes knows how to find the amazing opportunities that can arise from challenging situations. After playing a lot of sports, which came with lots of injuries. She discovered the path to pursue her dream of becoming an athletic trainer and physical therapist. On campus, Avery currently works with athletes as a student athletic trainer for the Miami RedHawks football team, which has transformed her entire college journey. We'll also talk about the fascinating world of performance and recovery, why rejection can actually be a super positive and valuable experience and how to make the most out of your time in college because it is just going to fly by.

Meredith Aliff 

So the first question that I want to ask you is who are you?

Avery Holmes 

My name is Avery Holmes. I'm a kinesiology major with the nutrition minor. I'm from the suburbs of Chicago. And I work for the Miami football team.

Meredith Aliff 

All right. Okay. So was this a plan that you had before coming to college, you knew this was going to be your major?

Avery Holmes 

I knew kinesiology was going to be my major just because that sets you up for careers like physical therapy, which is what I thought I always wanted to do. I'm more into athletic training now, which I'm sure we'll talk about in a little bit. But starting in high school, and coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to go into physical therapy. And that was what kinesiology was going to best set me up for. I had a lot of experiences in high school. That led me to be in PT, more than I was playing sports in high school. And I think I decided that physical therapy was going to be something that I wanted to pursue when I was in PT for months, and I was sad to leave it and I didn't want to go back to my sport. I was just so intrigued with what I was doing. And the environment I was in and my physical therapist made such a huge impact on me. And he taught me so much. During my time there, I think he could see how interested I actually was in my own recovery process and just what was going on, like with my muscles and my ligaments and things like that. So when I applied to colleges, I knew I wanted to do kinesiology, for sure.

Meredith Aliff 

Very cool. That's so interesting that you came across it in kind of a random way, like you actually got injured and had to go to PT, and then ended up learning all this cool stuff.

Avery Holmes 

Right. I think most people, they go to PT, and they hate it, because you know, it's taking you away from your sport. And I mean, I felt that way originally too obviously, because I was 14. I wanted to be playing soccer with my friends and playing for my high school and things like that. But, I don't know, there was something about the environment that just really drew me in. I got so intrigued with what was going on: that I was playing a sport one minute, and the next I couldn't bend my knee fully. I just ... there was something about that process that was just so interesting. And I was so fascinated by it. And I just remember one day my PT was, I don't know, doing manual therapy or something. I was in so much pain, I remember it. But I was just asking him something about the process. I think this injury specifically I was playing soccer and I tore my patellar tendon, which is in your knee. Painful, obviously. But I remember being in PT one day doing exercises, something, and we were just talking and I remember asking him like, you know, why can't I straighten my knee fully right now? Why? Why is my leg not at 100% range of motion. And I just remember he pulled out this thick, like anatomy textbook out of where? I don't know. But I put it on the table in front of me and just opened up a page to the anatomy of the knee. And he just got explaining everything to me. And I was just so fascinated because .... I mean, it's not for everybody, but definitely, definitely intriguing to me. And I just remember from then on out, I just ... I'd show up and there was the book and I'd be reading because I was just so interested.

Meredith Aliff 

Wow. How cool is that? Okay, and then what was the reasoning for the adding on the nutrition minor?

Avery Holmes 

I mean, Miami sets you up really well here with the nutrition minor just because there's so much overlap between the Kinesiology major and the nutrition minor. But for me specifically, that was just like a bonus because I knew I wanted to add nutrition. Because I know that I want to work with athletes in the future. That has always been a goal of mine and Nutrition has a really ... plays a huge role in the recovery process and just overall ability to perform well. And so I got drawn in through that. But I love it.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah, it's important. So with that major and that minor, what does a day of classes look like for you? Like I know sometimes you've got these two hour labs that you have to do. So what does that usually entail for you?

Avery Holmes 

Right? So it's definitely a lot of labs, which I like. It kind of depends on the person. I mean, I spent last night in my 3d Two lab for two hours, performing a six minute walk test where I just walked around cones for six minutes to try to just ... it was about performance, things like that. But they're very interesting. So I do have every day usually like two lectures. Definitely a busy week. I'm taking like 17 credits right now. So it's been a busy semester, but all good classes.

Meredith Aliff 

It's good to stay busy. Very cool. Are there any specific teachers or classes that you want to like give a shout out to, anything that's really stuck with you throughout your experience here?

Avery Holmes 

Absolutely. I think ... I love how late in the game it is. But I have just recently met what I've deemed my favorite professor here at Miami. Dr. Kyle Timmerman, he teaches my 468 class, which is kind of like the physiology of exercise. So it's like, Krebs cycle, anaerobic respiration, things like that. More like the science processes behind exercise, but he just makes them so digestible and understandable. He's so enthusiastic, and he's always talking about his research and stuff, which is super interesting. So I definitely say him. And then I'd also say, Dr. Walsh, is .... he taught my kinesiology 3d one class, which was like biomechanics of movement. And I've taken physics and it was a nightmare. So I was kind of nervous for his class being biomechanics again, but again, he's amazing. He makes the materials so interesting. He's done work with Olympic athletes in Germany, that he like ties into his classes all the time, which is, I mean, I could listen to that for forever. Those two are ...  Yeah, great. Teachers.

Meredith Aliff 

Great. Love it. So outside of class clubs, organizations, what are you a part of on campus?

Avery Holmes 

So I am in a sorority here on campus, I'm a member of Kappa Delta. Fellow sisters. But right now, I currently serve as the director of scholarship, which I am super excited about, I just got elected this semester to hold that position. You know, I love going to school here. I love taking classes. I love academics, I think they're super important. And so I get to hold study tables for girls. And, you know, just make sure everyone's on top of their things. And if they need support, or anything like that, I'm there. Which is ... it's been fun.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah, that is so fun. And then let's dive into what makes your experience in my opinion, the most unique when it comes to other people's experiences, tell me about your job.

Avery Holmes 

Right. So I currently work as a student athletic trainer for the Miami football team. I don't know where to start. It's been an amazing experience. I've been doing it for three semesters now. It's my third semester. I get to work with four other amazing girls who share similar interests with me. And we've become a very, very close knit group of girls. When there's four girls versus 120 guys, you kind of stick together. So they're amazing. my boss Paul Eversaw, he's changed my life, for sure. Definitely introduced me to the world of athletic training and what I can do with it, and he has been nothing but supportive and encouraging. And it's very cool. It's a very cool experience. Very unique environment. Yeah, I get to do crazy things that I mean, I could tell people I do and they're like, "wait, you went to the Bahamas?" And I'm like, I did get to go.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah. Tell me about that. Expand. What kind of opportunities has this job kind of brought your way?

Avery Holmes 

A year ago, last spring, I started out, I've learned so much. I get to work with amazing, amazing guys, amazing coaches, amazing equipment kids. All things like that. I get to travel half the weekends of the semester, which is wild, because I feel like I'm living a double life. Because I'll go to my classes in the week. And then on the weekends, I'll be in Buffalo, New York or something random. So I mean, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. We definitely have a bunch of different roles, like some of our athletic training roles would be, you know, we're taping. We're learning all different types of taping modalities, treatment techniques, you know, we get to run through different exercises and different treatments like Eastham, things like that. All super cool things that are definitely going to apply to my future. And we work during practices, we worked on games, we focus on hydration, things like that. So yeah, I mean, it's amazing. I could sit in on doctor's appointments and things like that. It's ... I mean, it's been incredible.

Meredith Aliff 

That's also quite a bit of responsibility. Not only that you need to know how to do these things, but you have a lot of information about these players like sitting in on doctor's appointments and like, this is pretty unique in my opinion.

Avery Holmes 

Yeah, it's definitely unique. And I'm super ... I'm so lucky I get to do what I do and see the things I do and I'm ... honestly I say it to the guys all the time, they don't understand it, but, you know, when we do sit in on those doctor's appointments, or those MRI readings that I'm like ... I always make sure it's okay that I'm there because, you know, injuries, when they do happen .... because it's ... I mean, it's their life. So it's a very vulnerable time for them, which is something you got to keep Mind, but as a student learning, I mean, the variety of injuries and stuff is really crazy. So, you know, I alway go in, I make sure it's okay with them. And I mean, they're amazing. They're always like," oh, yeah, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." So, yeah, I'm super grateful.

Meredith Aliff 

Absolutely. So, obviously, you get to travel half the weekends in fall, which is so cool. But you started working at an interesting time for the football team because they had an experience where they actually got to compete in a bowl. What was that experience like?

Avery Holmes 

It was amazing. We had a great season because we became bowl eligible. We played that last game against Ball State that we won, that sent us to the Bahamas, and there has never been a more fun game in my life to be a part of than that game. Just to be bowl eligible itself. It's like a really big deal. So I mean, the fact that we got to the Bahamas too.

Meredith Aliff 

Right yeah. That is just so cool. And would you say, so ... Coming in kinesiology, you were, like, kind of set on PT? Is this the main experience that changed your mind to athletic training?

Avery Holmes 

I would say more just confirmed what I already knew, but wasn't really ready to admit. Just because physical therapy, the industry is like so big. It's so growing. So is athletic training. But physical therapy in particular is... it's a massively growing industry. And I think there's something ... I don't want to say safer about going physical therapy. But there is, I mean, more financial security, less risky, you know, there's physical therapy jobs everywhere. But I think, you know, in high school, I knew athletic training was what I wanted to do, I just wasn't exactly sure how to go about it yet, or how to end up getting there. And then I was introduced to this job and getting to work directly with Paul, the head athletic trainer, I mean, it just confirmed everything for me. And I just ... I mean, every day I'd wake up and I'd go to class, but the thing I would be looking forward to most was going to work, just because the experiences are ... they're amazing. And it comes with such passion and excitement. And so, you can't really pass up something like that, you know, you got to kind of follow your heart with that kind of stuff.

Meredith Aliff 

Absolutley. And having the experience of, like you said, obviously looking forward to work, but you have these classes, and then you can kind of implement the things that you're learning into this job that then creates more passion. Because you're like, "oh, my gosh, I know how to do this now." Like, that's so cool. Which is super cool.

Avery Holmes 

Absolutely. Thank you.

Meredith Aliff 

Okay. So we have one more year of college. What is your plan for the rest of your experience here?

Avery Holmes 

So I actually just got admitted into graduate school here at Miami into our brand new master's of athletic training program, which I'll be starting next fall, it's a combined three and two program. So I'll be starting grad school in the fall. That would technically be my senior year, it's going to be my first year of grad school classes. So I will be taking fully graduate classes. And then I have one more undergraduate class to take next year as well. So my senior year, yeah, will basically be my first year of grad school.

Meredith Aliff 

Great, so then it'll just ... you'll basically be killing two birds with one stone. So after these five years are up, where are you planning on going? What's your ideal plan?

Avery Holmes 

Yeah, it's so unpredictable. I honestly ... I have no idea. I mean, I have dreams for sure. I think I'd like to go back home, probably to Chicago. I live in the suburbs. But I'd love to live in the city for a little bit. I don't know, maybe go explore a city like Boston. I've moved my whole life. So I love experiencing new places. So I think it could be fun to live somewhere else for a couple of years. I mean, the goal would be to work for a really big college D1 football program somewhere in like the SCC, or a really big program, something like that. And then I'd like to say go all the way to the pros. I sound like the guys when they're like, "We're going to the pros!" But, I mean, to work for the NFL would definitely be a dream. I'd love to work for any pro team I could whether it be basketball or hockey, but football has always been my favorite sport to watch and work with. So if I could get to the NFL, I'd love to.

Meredith Aliff 

Well, that's so exciting. So obviously, three years of college, it flies by. So many things happen. Like already, I feel like I've had like eight years worth of memories with our friends. Like, it's wild how much we go through. And some of it's amazing, right. And some of it is pretty difficult. So what are some of the bigger challenges that you've had to face in college?

Avery Holmes 

I mean, yeah, there are I mean tons of experiences throughout college where you know things don't always go your way. I love to say that rejection is redirection. I think it's so true. Like I applied to a medical fraternity here on campus. I wanted to be a part of so badly my sophomore year, and I made to the interviews. Didn't get in. I was devastated because you know, that was only my second semester here on campus. I wanted to be involved so badly. I just wanted to meet people and you know, do everything I could, you know, I was a doe-eyed sophomore just trying to get everything on my resume. And so I was crushed by that because, you know, I had gone through the process with some friends who, you know, some of them got in. Some of them didn't either. And it's definitely hard. But a month later, I got my job with Miami football. So, you know, and I ... doing that now I barely have time to go to class back. So you know, I mean, yeah, my favorite thing ever is "rejection is redirection" because you never know. Those experiences that ... it just wasn't meant for you at that time. And now I look at what the experiences I'm getting now.

Meredith Aliff 

So I love that: rejection is redirection.

Avery Holmes 

Yes. You just got to embrace opportunities. They are there.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah. absolutely. And rejection is very important too. Like, I talked about this with somebody on a previous episode. But there are people that have never experienced rejection before coming to college. And so it's like a smack in the face to get rejected that first couple of times in your life. And that can come through so many things, whether that's wanting to join a medical fraternity. So it's almost ...

Avery Holmes 

And not getting into that kept pushing me to look for more things to get involved in. And that's how I ended up, you know, going on Miami's job website. I was looking to maybe like, I don't know, get a job at the Rec or something. Something that, you know, followed my kinesiology interests. And I saw this and I was like, "I have to do this," like, I have to try for this.

Meredith Aliff 

Absolutely, yeah, no, I love that. I think the having the rejection is so important to any person's college experience. Because if you're not getting rejected, that probably means you're not putting yourself out there in the ways that is gonna make you the most successful in the long run. If you're playing it safe, that's totally fine, if that's what you want to do. But the most successful stories I feel like have come out of rejection.

Avery Holmes 

Absolutely.

Meredith Aliff 

Super cool. I love that "rejection is redirection." I will implement that into my life immediately. So, and maybe we already know the answer, but what is in all of college so far the single best decision that you've made?

Avery Holmes 

I would have to say taking my job with the football team just because, I mean, it's changed the whole path of my career and what I thought I was gonna do, and it's ... I've been introduced to people I never thought I would come across in my life, and amazing friendships, amazing mentors. Yeah. It's ... amazing experiences like getting to travel and things. Even though I'm going to Akron, Ohio, you know, I'm getting to see more of the world, which is, amazing.

Meredith Aliff 

Great. Last question for you is: if you could go back and talk to yourself, right before college. What would you say to yourself? What advice would you give, or to anybody in your situation?

Avery Holmes 

I would say trust yourself in what you're doing, and the other pieces will fall into place. And you will get out of your experience what you put in. And I think that's, I mean, definitely what I've done here. It's definitely what I've seen some of my friends do. So just trust the place that you decide to go because you're gonna get the experience you want out of it, for sure.

Meredith Aliff 

Great answer. That's a great answer. Okay, well, that's all that I have for you. Thank you so, so much for taking the time to come here. And congrats on all that you've accomplished.

Avery Holmes 

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Meredith Aliff 

Avery Holmes is a kinesiology major with a nutrition minor. After graduation she plans to work for a division one college football program before striving to make it to the NFL.