SXU Student-Athlete Makes University History
Only a freshman, Saint Xavier University (SXU) student-athlete Alesi Rodriguez has already made school history.
In the first weekend of the women's indoor track season, she surpassed the previously set record in the 300m with an astonishing time of 46.91 seconds. She went on to win the 800m with a time of 2:51.38 and placed seventh in the 400m with a time of 1:06.36.
"It was fulfilling to do this. I've put in work every day since July and pushed myself to the limits. It's great to see all the work has some results," Rodriguez said.
During her high school recruitment, Rodriguez knew Saint Xavier would be a place where she could not only smash records on the track but also excel in the classroom. Growing up in a family that preaches hard work, Saint Xavier's athletic and academic standards stood out to her.
"I liked the way the track team went about things. I grew up in a family where things weren't just given to you; you had to figure it out and go that extra mile. Our coach always tells us, 'Built, not born,' and I really like that. To me, that means you get to decide who you want to be. If you want to be different than everyone else, then you have to do what no one else is willing to do," Rodriguez said.
The discipline she's learned as a college athlete has translated into her academic performance as a psychology major. Rodriguez aims to earn her master's degree in social work one day and hopes to become a social worker or pursue a career in human resources. The challenges of being a student-athlete are preparing her for the workforce.
"I'd be lying if I said there weren’t weeks where I'd put myself down for not being where I want. But I just put my faith in God, my coaches, and myself. Winning is wonderful, but it's hard when you put in work and the results don’t match the effort. Sometimes we have to fail in pursuit of those goals to retain a greater value for the people that bless us. The purpose of the waiting season isn't necessarily getting what we want. It's to understand why we do what we do," Rodriguez said.
While still in the early stages of her collegiate career, Rodriguez looks forward to pushing herself to limits she's never achieved in the past, whether that be going for a 4.0 and perfect grades, chasing her post-grad career, or improving her overall times on the track.
"I just want a job where I can positively impact people's lives and find joy in everything I do," Rodriguez said.