When she sat down with the guidance counselor at Ritenour High School during her sophomore year, Miranda Martin had done her research. Based on her own personal interests and skillset, she knew there were two paths she could follow: become a physician’s assistant or a nurse. The counselor gave her resources to review and not long after, Martin was set on nursing. Knowing that college would be a financial burden for her family, Martin worked hard through high school to get good grades and stay involved in sports and extracurriculars. She also worked closely with her counselor to apply for the Opportunity Scholars Program through the Pierre Laclede Honors College at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and wound up earning a full ride, four-year scholarship. (fb)

The life of a student-athlete requires plenty of physical conditioning and discipline – hours in the weight room and on the practice field. But it often requires just as much mental fortitude. Irene Travis can attest to that firsthand. “Being a student-athlete taught me countless life lessons, from the importance of teamwork to grit to overcoming failure to pushing myself past what I thought I was capable,” she said. The summer before Travis joined the University of Missouri–St. Louis softball team as a freshman middle infielder, she tore her ACL. Undaunted by the setback, Travis worked hard to rehabilitate her leg and was cleared to play by February. A month later, the softball season was cancelled as collegiate and professional athletic organizations grappled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. (fb)