Communication, Commitment and Care: The Keys to Success for Student-Athlete Ela Kopec

“Be proud of yourself—the little kid in you has been dreaming of this since you began your sport and nursing career,” says nursing student Ela Kopec, a junior from Ludlow, Massachusetts, and a goalkeeper for Villanova’s Division I women’s soccer team. Her hard work in the goal is matched by her dedication to her future nursing career. Ela speaks about her commitment and experience as a student-athlete at Villanova.

Thanks to Ela for sharing her answers with junior nursing student Lauren Casimiro for this Q&A.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR SPORT?
I love being a part of something greater than myself. We have such a phenomenal group of women who care so greatly for Villanova University and playing for the school we love. It truly is a family environment.

WHAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR SPORT OR HOW YOU PLAY IT?
No game is ever the same. The sport has no timeouts or breaks (other than halftime) like others where you can regroup if needed. We must adapt on the spot and use what we learn in practice and film to adjust on the fly. It is the pinnacle of team sports.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN TERMS OF YOUR PERSONAL OR TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS? 
I am most proud of our team’s ability to grow. Over the course of my career at Villanova, we have had many changes, but we have shown how we embrace this change and use it to our advantage to create a better culture.

DESCRIBE THE TIME COMMITMENT.
On top of nursing, which includes a heavy class load and clinicals, in seasons we are allotted 20 hours of training within a set week of seven days. This can involve trainings, lifts, film, team meetings, community building and team bonding. We play every Thursday and Sunday in season, in rare cases leaving for games on Wednesdays to return on Sundays. While it is a big commitment in terms of time away from class, it is beneficial in learning how to be communicative and how to use my time effectively.

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?
You must be able to communicate well, be committed and care. Without these three things, it will be very difficult to stay on track with course work. Reaching out to professors and maintaining a professional forum of two-way communication is an absolute must to be successful on the field and in the classroom. The commitment to never let one fall while focusing on the other is also very important. Without caring about being both a student and an athlete, it will be difficult to find success in either.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS A NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE
Some days it’s very stressful to find time to study for exams and be locked in on the field. While the stress can be overwhelming, being able to work with the many resources the University and my team provide me is a huge help.

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AS A NURSING STUDENT?
My biggest inspiration as a nursing student is my love for what I am very lucky to do. Being able to learn from such phenomenal professors as well as nurses at clinical inspires me to be like them. I also am motivated by patients who deserve the best care possible. Without the amazing faculty at Villanova, I would not be able to be as successful and excited to work as I am.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR NURSING CAREER?
I want to inspire those around me to always push for their patients’ safety and health. I believe that, with these goals in mind, not only will I have an amazing career as a nurse, but I will also be able to inspire those around me. I am unsure of the exact specialty I want to pursue long term, but cardiology and the operating room are two spaces that I have come to love, and I am very excited to continue to explore both!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN INCOMING NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?
Find time to enjoy what you do in both aspects. Both will become overwhelming at some point, but being able to be proud of your accomplishments as an athlete and a nurse are two things that help me stay encouraged. Be proud of yourself—the little kid in you has been dreaming of this since you began your sport and nursing career.