Kellen Kimes | Liberty Track & Field

Hometown/Current City: Ludington, Michigan
Undergraduate Major: Biomedical Sciences
Postgraduate Field of Study: Medical School
 
How did playing college sports shape who you are today?
Playing college sports has truly been a mental battle more than anything else. In high school, putting in hard work and finding success in sports was a somewhat linear trend. Maybe it wasn’t quite that simple, but it still doesn’t compare to the up and down nature I have experienced in the collegiate world. With that said, college sports have tested my persistence, mental fortitude and endurance in ways I never thought they could. And by God’s grace and mercy I have been able to grow in these characteristics through the avenue of athletics. These are just some of the character-forming traits that athletics can cultivate. I am grateful to have seen and experienced the fruits of college athletics, which aren’t in rewards or accomplishments, but in close friendships, joyful memories and the edifying struggle to excel in athletics.
 
What career path are you pursuing after college?
I intend to pursue a career in medicine. My plan is to apply to med school in the hopes of having the opportunity to become a physician. I desire to work in the medical field in the service of helping and caring for others.
 
Which class has been your favorite and why?
My favorite class so far has been Theology Honors. Although I love my science classes, Theology was an incredible experience. I enjoyed going to class and having an open discussion about whatever theological topic was planned for that lecture.
 
What’s the best advice you ever got from a coach or teammate?
The best advice I ever got was to remember that everything happens for a reason. That goes without saying that The Lord directs our paths and though we may not understand “what” He is doing, we can rest assured that He is a Good Father and knows what His children need. This has helped me in the big moments, when an injury sets me down a completely different path and I need to rely on The Lord. Or even in the small things such as bad practices or bad competitions where I know The Lord is working in my heart to plant a seed that will bear fruit far beyond simple athletics. Moreover, in these moments where I need to trust The Lord that His plan is better, I find that He continues to take great pleasure in helping me accomplish the things I desire while en route to the greater destination that He has for me. And for this I praise Him!
 
What advice would you share with today’s student-athletes?
The advice I would share would probably be quite similar to what I previously mentioned but if I were to give an additional piece of advice, I would say that the foundation of your collegiate experience is grounded in your spiritual journey. Reading your Bible and taking initiative of your faith as a Christian or exploring Christianity for yourself if you have never thought twice about it, will most certainly change your life in ways you couldn’t imagine.
 
How has being a student-athlete helped you succeed in the classroom?
Becoming numb to hard work certainly has its perks and I find that athletics has most certainly pushed me in a direction where long hours in the library don’t intimidate me. However, I find that studying effectively and efficiently doesn’t come naturally and I find that as a student-athlete I was backed into a corner where I had no option but to learn how to be a productive student quickly. Whereas without athletics I might’ve held on to those qualities of procrastination and unproductivity much longer than I did.
 
What’s your best tip for balancing athletics and academics?
There are a lot of things I could say here but it most certainly is personalized. Having said that, your experience at college will be dictated by your priorities and goals and how well you stick to them throughout a semester. With that said, thinking for yourself is required. You need to decide what you want to accomplish, where you want to go, and what you are willing to sacrifice. This may change semester to semester but having these things established before you enter a semester will determine whether you “float your own boat” or “follow the current,” so to speak.