Diego Lopez-Barahona ’24 dreams of one day building an all-in-one physical therapy care center and training facility for athletes. While a varsity tennis player and exercise science major at Berry, he gained the experiences needed to make his goals a reality, including plans for a graduate degree in physical therapy.
Opportunities for hands-on, real-world learning drew Diego to Berry. Through Berry’s Lifeworks student job program, he managed intramural events for Berry, from organizing gear to officiating a variety of sports. He shared his love of tennis at the Rome Tennis Center where he coached groups and individuals of different ages. As an instructor, he applied what he learned in classes while building professional skills.
“Overall, both of these jobs grew my communication skills, which also grew my self-confidence,” says Diego.
But the courts weren’t the only place he received tangible learning experiences. Diego shadowed two physical therapists and worked as an intern at Advance Rehabilitation Physical Therapy in Rome, Georgia. In addition, lab work for classes provided new insights into textbook knowledge. “I learned about how the body reacts when you exercise, performing VO2 max tests, measuring blood pressure and heart rate as well as learning how to conduct DEXA scans,” he explains.
Professors played a pivotal role in his journey, advising on graduate schools, writing recommendation letters and sharing steps to success in the field. Diego highlights this one-on-one attention, saying, “Berry does a great job of hiring faculty and staff who really want to help their students succeed in and outside of the classroom.”
Being a varsity athlete made a lasting impact. Diego learned to power through hardship and benefited from teammates who pushed each other to improve in practice. He received the prestigious Dr. Garland Dickey Scholarship award given to athletes demonstrating high scholarship, positive attitudes and a sense of service.
Diego adds that playing a varsity sport let him relax and have time away from academics, giving him balance and helping him succeed on and off the court: “I love the competition, the game — it makes college so much fun. Having this great group of guys as a support system has and will always be one of the best parts of Berry for me.”
Giving words of encouragement to future exercise science majors, he says, “Be patient. Not everything is going to go as planned, but it's actually a good thing. Talk to professors and become their friend, because they have been in our position and know what we are going through. Conversations with them can be the thing that keeps you going.”
