D.C. Student, Student Ambassador, Assistant Coach- Life U Men’s Volleyball

“A Student-Athlete to Future Chiropractor Story”

Growing up in Hong Kong was a life filled with simplicity and family for Esa Tsoi, sandwiched between an older sister and a younger half-brother. She looks up to her mother considerably because her mother immigrated to the United States after her divorce, remarried and created a renewed life for herself, demonstrating strength of character. Tsoi followed suit years later to study exercise science at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, as well as play women’s volleyball.

Tsoi had been an active volleyball player for over 15 years, so she was excited to play at the collegiate level during her undergraduate studies while keeping the dream alive to one day continue to medical school. Yet, as the old saying goes, the only constant in life is change. Sadly, a career-ending injury occurred that required Tsoi to figure out the next steps in her journey if she wanted to stay connected to her sport. She eventually made the switch to coaching, first as an assistant coach for Campbellsville University Men’s Volleyball.

As fate would have it, Campbellsville University and Life University (Life U) are athletic rivals in a number of sports, including volleyball. In something of a university meet-cute, Tsoi played an away volleyball game against Life U and quickly became charmed by her scenic, compelling surroundings. She keenly remembers asking a teammate about the prominent sculpture that serves as a key campus landmark, the detailed bronze hands that she later learned were modeled after Life U founder Dr. Sid Williams performing a toggle adjustment. That is when Tsoi learned about Life U’s rich chiropractic history, unearthing a latent curiosity in chiropractic care and holistic healing from career talks she had participated in back in high school.

To learn more about the possibility of Chiropractic as a career, Tsoi inquired with a local chiropractor in Campbellsville and became a chiropractic assistant there, completing internship hours as part of her degree program.

“I was just learning how a chiropractor runs his office. I learned a lot about Chiropractic, what they do […] and also, I always knew that I wanted to help in health – to help athletes in their sense of improving performance and preserving their health,” Tsoi said.

It became clear after a few months of seeing “all the fun stuff” and vital work that the chiropractor was doing that Chiropractic was the right path for her. As a Life U graduate, the chiropractor encouraged her to check out Life University, and it wasn’t too long after her undergraduate program finished that she moved to Marietta to enroll in Life U’s D.C. program. She has enjoyed being able to continue in her athletics passion as an assistant coach for Life U Men’s Volleyball, as well as to have a front row seat to see how chiropractic care can give that edge to sports performance.

“[Life U] has [developed] a different way to coach, to teach, to help this group of young people grow. That was a really interesting thing for me to see, and also what’s special here is the athletes here get adjusted, so I can see like ‘OK, athlete not getting adjusted and athlete getting adjusted – like there’s actually some difference in there.’ I think it’s really interesting to see how their body adapts,” Tsoi said.

Student Ambassadors is another additional avenue outside of the classroom where Tsoi has dedicated her talents and grown as a future chiropractic professional. Student Ambassadors essentially serve as liaisons for the Life U President’s office, helping visitors, alumni, current and prospective students connect to the University and all it has to offer.

“I learned that I [have] grown in public speaking because I used to be really shy, [but I’m] not as shy anymore. I learned that I have the touch for making people feel safe and reassured. So, I really like that about myself, and I have that strength and am doing better at it every day,” Tsoi said.

Tsoi looks forward to her continued growth and development as she gets further along in her clinical experience at school, eager to absorb as much as she can and live out Lasting Purpose in all that she does.

 

Note: Tsoi wanted to clarify she is in an international student and her family has not established U.S. residency.