WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Nicky Salloum of @MUCrusadersSB

After graduation, I took a year off to obtain additional patient care experience to help with my application to PA school.  I went through the entire interviewing process and was lucky to be accepted into the PA program and the University of Findlay down in Ohio, which I started in the summer of 2018.  It is a two and a half year program and I will be graduating in December this year.  Currently, I am in my clinical year so I have been out in the field working with patients this year.  Other than that, I have traveled to Canada a few times to visit my fiance and to Portland to visit my brother, and participated in slow pitch seasons when I have the time. 

It definitely has been interesting.  During my first clinical in January, that was all the conversations were about in the office and we figured it would blow over.  But during my surgery rotation during February and March, things started to turn in the opposite direction and our clinicals were cut short and put onto a hiatus.  So we have been out of clinicals the past couple of months because medical places were trying to limit individuals that were not considered essential.  New regulations were being put into place during the last week of my surgery rotation, so it was interesting to be in the mix of the stress that was developing throughout the hospital.  I did not have any experience treating or helping any patients with COVID-19, even though I believe working during a pandemic would have been the most educational experience for a medical student.

Wow, there are so many memories from playing over the years.  It is a hard decision to choose between two memories that stand-out above them all.  The first would be during my junior year when we had a walk-off win over Davenport.  The excitement felt at home plate between Morgan Kaiser, Emma Cook and me was amazing and it was a moment all athletes dream about experiencing.  The other memory would have to be when we were in California during my sophomore year and upsetting California Irvine as the underdogs not once, but twice! During the second game, there was a bit of heat between our two teams which made it more exciting, especially when both benches almost were cleared for a brawl at home plate. 

There were so many memories both on and off the field, but I will never forget our bus rides after some great wins. But the best memories were after finals were finished and we had to stay on campus for playoffs and no one else was left in the dorms.  We would mattress surf down the stairs of the dorm buildings, which probably was not the best idea when we had games coming up, but we always needed some time to relax!

It was difficult at times.  Having workouts at 6am, two to three classes directly after that, and then sometimes having practice after classes made for very long days.  I had crazy class schedules that I had to work around our softball schedule, so I was at school varying between the time of 6 am and 9 pm.  Then staying up past midnight to do homework or study was dreadful.  Softball was my main focus, I won't lie about that, but I knew I had to do well in school in order to continue playing.  There were times I had to force myself to do homework while on the bus, which was extremely difficult when I just wanted to nap on the way home or was trying to get into the proper mindset before a game.  My parents were also harping on me growing up to excel in school if I want to participate in sports, and I definitely learned my lesson back in 6th grade that they were not joking.  I made it my goal each year to do well in school so that I could enjoy softball even more.  

I don't think I can still answer that question with truth, because I don't always know.  Madonna was only 1/4 of a mile away from my house and growing up I promised myself that I would NEVER go to Madonna because I wanted to be away from my house finally.  But things change and I was fortunate enough to receive scholarships that covered my entire undergraduate finances so I could not say no to that answer.  I participated in Sunday softball camps as a kid and I knew Al White for years.  When I actually became aware that he had noticed me growing up playing, I was ecstatic.  Madonna is a small school and I wanted that during my college education and having my parents let me stay at home for free and even makes meals for me, I couldn't say no to that. 

Live your life to the fullest. You have a goal that you set for yourself to succeed, so don't let anything stand in your way.  You can achieve things that you may not have thought you could. Don't ever give up on yourself even if things start to get harder and more stressful, because there is always a light at the other end of the forest.  Have fun even if your schedule is busy.  Don't be shy, make as many friends as you can.  I know that I made some fantastic ones from my team over four years and I will forever cherish the friendships.