MIAMI (Aug. 14, 2020) - Recently graduated Kristin Telford of FIU women's soccer posted an MCAT score over the summer that ranked among the top-25 percent in the nation. The former Panther answered a Q&A to talk about her post-graduate efforts, her experiences with FIU soccer, and what led to her becoming a Panther. 

Q: When did you first start playing soccer, and why did you choose the sport?
A: I first started playing soccer when I was four years old. I was always at the soccer fields running around during my older brother's games and practices, so by the time I was old enough my parents decided to sign me up to play too.
 
Q: Did you always dream of playing collegiate soccer?
A: To be honest, no. When I was about 10 or 11, Coach [Sharolta Nonen] actually invited me to attend a training session with a few girls who were preparing for their college seasons. I left that training session telling myself I would never willingly go through that again. As I got older though, I began to realize how talented I actually was. So, when college coaches started to reach out to me, I figured it was worth trying.
 
Q: What made you choose to transfer to FIU?
A: After a rough experience at my previous institution, I took a step back and realized it would be best for me to either quit soccer or go play for a new coach. I've known Coach Shay for many years, so when she called and offered me a spot on her team, I felt that I was getting the best of both worlds. I would get to continue playing soccer with a coach I trusted. I really had no interest in playing for anyone else, so I didn't think twice about transferring to FIU. I figured if she chose to coach at the school, it must be pretty great!
 
Q: What makes FIU different from other Universities?
A: FIU is truly a diverse university. By attending FIU I was able to meet and become friends with people from all across the world. There aren't many other schools in the U.S. that could provide me with that type of experience.
 
Q: How did Coach Shay and FIU impact you as a student?
A: Both Coach Shay and FIU as a whole instilled a confidence in me that I, as a female minority, can break through all barriers that may hinder me going forward.  Coach Shay typically ended our practices with a women's empowerment speech. Usually I was too tired to really digest what she was saying, but what I did gather from those speeches has proven to be valuable. I'm thankful FIU showed me what it looks like to have women in high places, and a coach that always encouraged us, as women, to take our power and use it to our advantage.
 
Q: What has life been like after graduation? Are you still living in Miami?
A: Since graduation, I have moved back home to Atlanta, Georgia. Considering 2019 was a pretty rough year for my family, I have enjoyed the slower change of pace that home brings. With everything going on in the world, my life at home is different, but I like it. I'm a homebody at heart, so the more time I get to spend at home with my family, the better.
 
Q: You recently scored in the top 25% of the country on your MCAT exam. How were you able to stay focused and achieve this difficult task during such a challenging time?
A: As an athlete, we are always taught to focus on controllable factors, so that's what I did. Even with all of the uncertainty our world is currently facing, I knew I could wake up and dedicate 6-8 hours of study time to this exam. It wasn't always easy, but at the end of the day, it was something that was completely in my control. Either I wanted to get it done, or I didn't.
 
Q: What universities are you applying to for graduate school?
A: When it comes to applying to medical school, I'm really pretty open to anything. I'm not really focused on the name or the location of the school, but rather how I believe I will fit with that school and their mission.
 
Q: What do you plan on studying in graduate school?
A: As of right now, I really don't have any specific area that I would like to study. I really want to use my time in medical school to explore all of the available options, so by the time I graduate I can choose the best specialty for me.
 
Q: What was your dream job when you were a little girl?
A: When I was six years old, I got up in front of my entire church and told everyone that I wanted to be a pediatrician. It's pretty surreal that now, at 23, I really have the potential to see that dream come true.

Q: Would you like to stay involved in soccer after college? If yes, how so?
A: Yes, the more medically interested side of me would love to follow around a women's soccer team and do an in-depth research study on ACL tears, treatment, and prevention to better understand why this injury is so common. On the other hand, I would also love to spend my free time coaching a youth soccer team or working at youth soccer summer camps.

Q: Who do you draw inspiration from in the world of women's soccer?
A: The U.S. women's soccer national team has always inspired me. I really like how they use their platform to advocate for not only themselves but other women around the world. I also like how they don't stand down to a society that often times sees women as inferior to men.
 
Q: Where do you envision yourself or hope to be 10 years from now?
A: 10 years from now I hope to have finished my residency and started my lifelong career in my medical specialty of choice. I'd also love to be doing rare disease research, creating/organizing my own 5k events that raise money for various foundations, and serving the community I live in however I can.
 
Q: What's your favorite memory from your time as a Panther?
A: On one of our travel trips to Dallas, Texas, we ended our night at a restaurant. We were all pretty exhausted from being in the airport all day, so when the waiter repeatedly asked who the cheese bread belonged to, a group of us just decided to claim it since no one else was. That cheese bread was, hands down, some of the best cheese bread I've ever had. Later on, though, we found out the bread actually belonged to one of our teammates who really wanted it. Ha-ha, oops!

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU_WSoccer Instagram and @FIUWSoccer on Facebook and Twitter. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.