When someone’s mission is never to be average, desire is everything.
That is the goal of January’s Spotlight Athlete. Laredo Sports Medicine Clinic is proud to introduce Annette Gallegos of Lyndon B Johnson High School, January 2017’s Spotlight Athlete.
Like so many of our recognized athletes, Annette Gallegos began her athletic journey early in life. She started in kindergarten playing basketball. Inspired by her father, Annette joined her school team and excelled from the get-go. She added other sports early as well, enjoying volleyball and track as well as basketball. By the end of her middle school days, Ms. Gallegos was a multi-sports talent.
“High School Athletics is very demanding and time-consuming. I had to choose which activities I could participate in and still balance my schooling and other things. So, I opted to dedicate my efforts in Volleyball and Track,”
explained Annette. Here is where Annette Gallegos shined. She was a four-year letterman in volleyball at LBJ and was chosen All-District Honorable Mention in 2014. The following year Annette earned First Team All-District Libero honors for the 2015-2016. season. She was also a team captain for three years (2013-2016). Her leadership matched her performance on the court. Annette was often heard telling her teammates “Todo se puede en esta vida – Everything is possible in life.”
Her track and field career was just as stellar. Annette has lettered the last two years and is preparing for the 2017 track and field season. Already, she has grand accomplishments. She runs the 4 x 400, but it is in pole vaulting where she is setting new heights! Annette vividly remembers her conversation with her track coach,
“My coach asked me if I like roller coasters and heights. I said yes I do. Then he told me you’ll like pole vaulting.”
She set a new school record by vaulting over 8 feet. When asked how she does it all our Laredo Sports Medicine Clinic spotlight athlete says that desire is everything.
“You have to want to be the best at what you do all the time,”
says Annette.
Annette Gallegos has proved that she can do it all. She is an academic powerhouse as well. She currently ranks fifth in her class with a G.P.A of 4.0721. She has been very active in her student government. Annette has served as her Sophomore Class Vice President, Junior Class President, and is currently the Senior Class President. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Distinguished Achievement Program, Health Science Academy, Laredo Community College Dual Enrollment Program, Advanced Placement Program, and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program. Annette has also logged over 400 community service hours in various organizations such as Santa Margarita De Escosia Church, Laredo Nursing, and Rehabilitation Center, Volleyball Performance Academy, and Dioceses of Laredo. Annette has also volunteered at many events at Lyndon B. Johnson High School.
With so much on Annette’s plate, you would think that our spotlight athlete would take a break occasionally. Not Annette! She also has a perfect attendance record. That’s right; she’s never been absent.
Annette Gallegos plans on pursuing a Biology degree at Texas A&M University. She has been accepted to attend there this coming fall, 2017. Her goal is to become a doctor in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. She giggles as she says,
” I’m not squeamish at all. I like all the SAW movies.”
You get the sense that she likes the medical field immensely. Annette gets excited when she mentions her plans.
She hasn’t forgotten those who have shaped her either. Her hero is her grandmother. Annette states that her grandmother is widely respected by all her family.
“My grandmother is a very strong willed lady. Everyone in our family looks to her for guidance. She is our rock; the glue to our family.”
Asked what she would say to her classmates or others, Annette says,
“Be mentally strong! Manage your time wisely! You must have a desire to keep at whatever you’re doing. Too many have quit because of lack of desire not lack of talent.”
Annette Gallegos has proven she has the desire to succeed. We are proud to recognize her as Laredo Sports Medicine Clinic’s January 2017 Spotlight Athlete. Congratulations Annette!!
Laredo Sports Medicine Clinic is South Texas’ premier sports medicine and orthopedic care facility. LSMC provides a full range of sports medicine, orthopedic care, and physical therapy services in state of the art facilities. Our team features sports medicine doctors, an orthopedic surgeon, physician’s assistants, and physical therapists. Schedule your next appointment and let us get you back in the game.