"BE COACHABLE" by Lizzie Garza
- Embrace Doubt
- Mar 24, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 11, 2024
Lizzie Garza
College/University: Waldorf University
Grade Level: Senior
Age: 22
Class:2024
Honors/Awards College:
4-year Dean’s List, Alpha Chi Honors Society, 4-year NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete, 2022 North Star Athletic Association Champion of Character, Team Captain
High School: Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Class: 2020
Honors/Award HS:
District Newcomer of the Year, All-Metro Newcomer of the Year, 3rd Team All-Valley, 3-time 1st Team All-Valley, 1st Team All-Metro, 1st Team All-District, 2-Time All-Valley Offensive Team, Unanimous MVP, All-Metro MVP, All-Region Team, 2020 Senior All-Stars, 2020 Academic All-State, STX Cream of the Crop
I am from Brownsville, Texas and a current college senior seeking a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion and Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology and Biology. I am looking to apply to Graduate School and apply to a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. As a child, I was exposed to many sports, such as volleyball, track, softball, and basketball. The one sport that stood out to me the most was basketball, which was the sport I decided to continue playing collegiately.
As a first-year collegiate athlete, I would always doubt my abilities and skills because everyone around me would have better abilities than I would. I learned that it takes hard work on and off the court to have a successful career. After a few months, I decided to put in the work every day by getting in the gym and putting some shots up, even on the days when I did not feel like going. Putting in the work paid off towards the end of my career knowing how much I had improved throughout the years.
Some advice I would give to a younger athlete who is considering playing at the collegiate level is to find a school that is the best fit for you. Knowing what aspects of a team you are looking for and personalities and people you would like to be surrounded by. Knowing that it takes time management skills and discipline to be successful at this level.
Be coachable, whether it be from your coaches or your own teammates. This is important because in order to grow as a player, we must learn to accept feedback from those around us to develop our game and knowledge of the sport. Learning how to take constructive criticism is crucial to becoming a successful player.
Embrace Doubt means that no matter how unsure you might be about an outcome or situation, it is good to embrace it and see what the turnout will be. One of my examples is doubting myself of being able to play at the collegiate level. If you would have asked me my first three years of high school if I wanted to play at the collegiate level, I would have said no because I always thought to myself that I was not good enough for college. My senior year, I learned to embrace the doubt that I had in myself and decided to move forward with my basketball career.
The most important piece of advice I have received was from Coach Mario Gonzalez. Said continue pursuing my dreams and to never stop working towards your dreams. In the next 5 years, I see myself graduating from Graduate School with my DPT. I hope to be working as a Physical Therapist in Brownsville, Texas. Along with a great job, I plan on going to different hiking trails in the United States.
-Lizzie Garza Embrace Doubt 3/24/24
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