California Lutheran University issued the following announcement on March 31.
We have another highlight for Women’s History Month to share with you!
Maddy Griess and Esme Aladueña Salcido are both Cal Lutheran alums who graduated in 2020. Both majored in Exercise Science, but with an emphasis in Human Performance for Maddy and Health Professions for Esme. Currently, Maddy manages the Forrest Fitness Center and is a strength coach on the Athletic Performance team. Esme is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for American Medical Response, Inc.
Originally from Minnesota, adjusting to life away from home and family was difficult at times for Maddy: “One of the most helpful ways that I was able to overcome that situation was by surrounding myself with a new community of loved ones here at Cal Lu.”
A recent challenge Esme has faced is a change in career paths. While working at a physical therapy clinic during undergrad, she realized she did not want to become a physical therapist. After visiting the Ventura County Fire booth at the Career Expo her senior year, she decided she wanted to become a firefighter to help people and be part of a team and that firefighter family.
In their free time, Maddy and Esme like to spend time with each other and their dog, Cairo. “We enjoy being outdoors, going for walks/hikes and finding dog-friendly beaches. We also love to take road trips whenever we get the chance.”
Maddy shares a quality that she’s proud of is her work ethic: “I’d like to think of myself to be a very goal-oriented person, and I will put everything I have into something that I want to accomplish.” One of Esme’s greatest accomplishments is getting accepted into a Women’s Fire Prep Academy held by Los Angeles County Fire Department. She registered to compete amongst hundreds of other women and was selected to come back for the rest of the prep academy.
The women who figure in both Maddy and Esme’s lives that inspire them are their mothers. Maddy shares that her mother’s “love and sacrifice has shaped me into the woman, partner, coach, and human that I am today.” Esme says she has learned so many lessons from her mom including how to be a hard worker, to always keep moving forward and to always give 110% to everything you do.
Original source can be found here.
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