Summertime Adventures: Karlye Smith

We have a team of achievers.  They achieve success in the classroom. They achieve success on the soccer field.  They achieve success within the greater community.  And their achievement doesn't stop once summer vacation starts.  Here is Part One of our "Summertime Adventures" piece about the achievements of our Gustavus Women's Soccer players over summer 2014.

Name: Karlye Smith
Graduation Year: 2015
Major: Athletic Training
Position: Center Back
Hometown: Eau Claire, WI
Summertime Adventure: Internship at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

What are you doing over the summer in Florida?

I received an offer for an internship with RehabWorks at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. RehabWorks is a on base free therapy center where all employees of KSC can come are get treatment, whether it's post-op, a nagging problem or an acute injury. It is staffed with two certified athletic trainers. RehabWorks offers one-time 30-minute consultations and in-patient therapy. Being an intern allows my to gain exposure to an industrial/corporate setting in which athletic trainers are staffed. It is completely different from being in an athletic training room. It has allowed me to branch out and do something new and different and where I'm scared, but leaps of faith are good and opportunities like this are far and few between. 

You had several internship opportunities this summer, why did you choose Florida?

I chose to take an internship in Florida, first, because it's Florida.. who the heck wouldn't!? Second, it's an amazing opportunity to expand my knowledge of athletic training and because I don't get the exposure to and industrial/corporate setting while attending school. Third, the other places I applied too didn't get back to me in a timely manner. 

How will this experience help you going into your senior year and post-college?

This experience has given me an opportunity to grow as a person, individually and in the major of athletic training. Coming into senior year, I have a new perspective. The more you communicate, the better you understand, the more questions you ask for clarification and plain curiosity,  the mistakes you make, the lessons you taken away from something, the more you grow as a person. I have become more confident, I'm not as afraid to make mistakes and have them backfire. The fact that I moved to a city I didn't know and where I knew no one, has allowed me to become stronger as an individual knowing that I am capable of taking on new challenges and risk failure and not accomplishing goals I have set for myself. I have more of a "be yourself, don't be afraid to make mistakes, failure is an option but strive to be better" mentality. I'm almost done with my internship and I have found out a lot about myself. I am proud of myself to taking this challenge. For moving somewhere where I didn't have any friends, knew nothing about the town, and getting myself into an internship that is in a totally different setting that what I'm used to. Overcoming the fear of failure has been a big part through this internship for myself. No one likes failure. Everyone is scared of failing, but you never know how strong you are until you take a leap, small or big, into something that you've never done before. I have found that out about myself. I am stronger. This new-found feeling will allow me to enter into my senior year, not afraid to go into something blind or scared. This same feelings I can transfer to post-college into the real world. The fact that failure is an option and not taking it as a bad thing but a good things. This is the biggest experience I have taken away from this internship. 

Who is the coolest person you've met down there? 

I have met a bunch of people! But the coolest person I have meet was the "big man on top", the guy in charge of all of KSC. 

What's it like living on the beach with three swimming pools and tennis courts within your apartment complex?

Unfortunately, I have not been able to spend quite as much time as I would have liked enjoying my apartment. But, when I do.. best vacation! Living on the beach is great. Running on the beach is not as enjoyable as I would like, but it works. I don't take advantage of the tennis courts or the pools.. I mean, there's a beach and the ocean.. who needs the pool!? There is a colony of peacocks.. not good. They are very loud and obnoxious at the wrong time of day and they walk around like they own the place. I have heard that sea turtles come and lay their eggs in the sand dunes, but I have not seen one yet and from what I've been told, it's very rare. Still hoping though. I also live within a half mile from the Port. This is where all of the cruise ships come and go. It's quite a sight to see such massive ships. Also on the Port, such great food! I spend most of my weekends there and on the beach. Livin' la vida loca! (;

How tan are you?

Tan... very tan. Pictures will prove it!!