For Courtney, graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette represents much more than earning a college degree. It marks the completion of a demanding chapter filled with academics, Division I athletics, injuries, personal growth and the discipline required to keep moving forward even when the finish line felt far away.
Courtney graduated from UL Lafayette in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a concentration in Pre-Professional Studies. After years of balancing the responsibilities of being both a college student and student-athlete, she describes reaching graduation as a mixture of excitement, pride and uncertainty about what comes next.
“Graduating feels exciting and scary at the same time,” Courtney said. “College was so mentally draining, especially while also being an athlete. I’m just so proud of myself for sticking it out and making it through to the end.”
For years, the familiar rhythm of summer ending and another semester beginning provided structure. Graduation, however, brings a different reality.
“Now it’s time for the real world,” she said. “I don’t have that backbone of just going back to school after summer, so now it’s time to actually put my degree towards something.”
From Athletics to a Future in Medicine
Courtney’s interest in kinesiology developed naturally from her curiosity about the human body, movement, health and injury recovery. Her experiences as an athlete further strengthened that interest, particularly through her own injuries and interactions with healthcare professionals throughout her athletic career.
Those experiences ultimately helped shape her goal of becoming a physician assistant.
“I have always been interested in the human body, movement, health and injury recovery,” Courtney said. “My own experiences as an athlete, especially dealing with injuries and interacting with healthcare professionals, strengthened my desire to work in medicine.”
Following graduation, Courtney plans to complete her remaining prerequisite courses while gaining additional patient-care, healthcare, volunteer and shadowing experience. She also plans to use the next stage of her journey to explore different areas of medicine before applying to physician assistant programs.
The Discipline Behind a Division I Student-Athlete
While attending UL Lafayette, Courtney competed in track and field, primarily in the long jump, while also competing in hurdles during the earlier portion of her athletic career.
Being a student-athlete became one of the defining experiences of her time in college.
“Being a student-athlete shaped nearly every part of my college experience,” she said. “It taught me discipline, accountability and how to continue working when I felt physically or mentally exhausted.”
That discipline became particularly important while balancing a science-based major with practices, strength training, treatments, travel, competitions, assignments and the responsibilities of everyday life.
Of all her accomplishments, Courtney said earning her degree while competing at the Division I level is one of the achievements that means the most to her.
“Balancing a demanding science-based major with practices, strength training, travel, competitions and everyday life required a great deal of discipline,” she said. “I am also proud that I continued working toward my goals while facing injuries and other challenges throughout my athletic career.”
Those injuries created challenges beyond physical recovery.
There were days filled with classes, assignments, practice and treatment with very little opportunity to rest. Injuries could affect her physically while simultaneously testing her confidence and mental strength.
Through those experiences, Courtney learned the importance of remaining focused while also understanding when to extend grace to herself.
“I had to learn how to remain focused, give myself grace and ask for help when I needed it,” she said.
A Support System Beyond the Track
Courtney credits her friends, family and teammates with helping her navigate the highs and lows of college.
Whether she was facing doubt, celebrating an accomplishment or simply trying to make it through another demanding week, her support system continued to remind her of what she was capable of accomplishing.
“They encouraged me when I doubted myself, celebrated my accomplishments and reminded me that I was capable of finishing what I started,” she said.
That support became especially meaningful as she worked toward a milestone that required years of sacrifices both inside the classroom and on the track.
Capturing Both Sides of Her Journey
When it came time to take her graduation portraits, Courtney wanted the images to represent more than graduation alone.
She wanted them to capture both identities that defined much of her college experience: the student who worked to earn her degree and the athlete who dedicated years of her life to competing at a high level.
“I wanted them to feel confident, feminine, strong and authentic,” Courtney said. “Most importantly, I wanted the pictures to celebrate how far I have come and capture the closing of one chapter before I begin the next.”
The experience itself became another memorable part of celebrating the accomplishment.
Courtney said her graduation session with Marcus James Photography allowed her to feel comfortable expressing her ideas while bringing her vision to life.
“The vibes and energy were great,” she said. “Marcus made me feel very comfortable, and I was able to express myself and my ideas. We had good talks, and he gave me some good poses that made my vision come to life. I didn’t feel rushed or anything, and they came out so good.”
More Than Grades and Athletics
As Courtney prepares for what comes next, she leaves college with a perspective shaped by both success and adversity.
Her advice to future college students and student-athletes is to resist the temptation to measure their progress against someone else’s timeline.
“Enjoy the experience without comparing your journey to anyone else’s,” she said. “College will not always go exactly as planned, and there may be moments when you question yourself, but those moments can help you grow.”
She also encourages students to remain disciplined, develop genuine relationships and be willing to ask for help.
Most importantly, Courtney believes students should remember that their value extends beyond any grade, statistic or athletic performance.
“Your identity is bigger than your grades or athletic performance,” she said. “Give your best effort, but also give yourself grace.”
For Courtney, graduation is proof of that message.
The medals, competitions, assignments, practices, setbacks and long days are now part of a completed chapter. Ahead of her is a new challenge — preparing for a career in medicine and eventually earning a place in a physician assistant program.
This time, there may not be another fall semester waiting after summer.
But after proving she could navigate the demands of college athletics and academics simultaneously, Courtney is entering her next chapter with the discipline, resilience and confidence to build something new.
