“My priority shifted to mental and emotional agility.” Former Davidson College NCAA Division 1 Athlete Isabella Lozano Talks Agility

Isabella Lozano learned a lot about life before she even graduated from college. On a school holiday break from Davidson College, she was in a life-threatening ski accident that caused traumatic brain injuries that changed how she would experience her life and move around the world forever. As you can imagine, it also shifted her perspective on life - physically, emotionally, mentally - forever. It was a practice in many types of agility, all at once because she was determined to get back on the field.

The good part, the journey part, of Izzy’s story is that she powered her mind, body, and spirit through rigorous rehab, restoration, relearning - to take the field again at Davidson before she graduated. Davidson tells that story here. 

In this interview, Izzy, now a Davidson College alum who works full-time as a Communications Specialist, shares her thoughts on agility. 

ms: As a lifelong athlete, what did you grow up / learn about 'agility' or staying 'agile'? How would you have defined 'agility'? 

il: As someone who grew up playing sports, I learned how important physical agility is in any sport. During lacrosse practices, we would dedicate time to agility to improve our reaction time and ability to change direction or speed quickly. As a result of the constant emphasis on physical agility growing up, I would have defined agility as the ability to move quickly and nimbly. 

Coaches of youth sports teach players about the physical game. Although the physical game is important for any sport, many coaches do not teach the mental skills that can impact athletic performance. Growing up in athletics, not enough emphasis was placed on mental and emotional agility. An athlete’s abilities are often equated to their physical capabilities because it is easy for coaches and trainers to see the physical results. However, emotional and mental agility are just as important. There are even times when these components are more important than one’s physical abilities as an athlete, which I wish I learned prior to college. 

ms: You were in a life-changing skiing accident, which forced you to rehab/relearn some skills - both physical and emotional. How did you stay agile or practice agility through your recovery journey? 

il: I sustained traumatic head injuries from my accident, including a fractured skull, broken nose, fractured cheekbones, broken teeth, and damaged optic nerve. As a result of these injuries, I lost my sense of smell and peripheral vision in my right eye. 

My first reaction after my accident was, “I need to get back as fast as I can.” But I quickly realized that I needed to slow down and let myself heal before anything else. I had to switch my mindset to focus on my mental and emotional agility, something I had not heavily acknowledged in the past. I began to realize that various aspects of my life would be forever changed. Still, my focus was to wake up every day with a positive outlook on my recovery. I knew this would be a critical factor if I ultimately wanted to come back stronger than before. 

Once I began rehab, I went to the training room every day. I spent time doing exercises to improve my coordination and gain confidence in playing with a vision impairment. Many people around me thought that I should never play again because of the risks involved. This was a major obstacle for me because I had to prove to myself and to others that I could fully recover. Throughout the process, there were times when I would get down on myself, but I had to remind myself what goals I was working towards. 

ms: You're back on the field. Did your definition of agility change or shift after the skiing accident? 

il: Following my accident, my definition of agility certainly changed. My priority shifted to mental and emotional agility. Prior to my accident, I was not aware of the impacts that mental and emotional agility could have on an athlete. With every setback or disappointing doctor’s visit, I decided that I would accept the outcome and work as hard as I could to come back. Now, I define agility as the ability to face and adapt to obstacles. One of the most significant takeaways from my recovery journey and taking time off the field was that my biggest obstacle is my mind. How I choose to face inner thoughts and experiences determines my success. My life mantra now is that life is too short to sweat the little things. 

ms: Agility isn't always an athletic term - it's really a life term. How did the agility you've learned - or relearned - impacted how you approach school, work, relationships? 

il: My shifted perspective of agility has impacted every aspect of my life. Going through my recovery and facing the mental and emotional obstacles along the way, I realized that I can get through anything. Now, when I am faced with a challenge in school, work, or relationships, I know that I can overcome any challenges that come my way. Most recently, after the COVID-19 pandemic started, our lives were turned upside down. After a lifetime of in-person learning, I had to switch to online learning. I never expected my senior year in college to look like this. However, I knew this was just another challenge I would have to learn to adapt to and overcome. Rather than dwelling on the pandemic’s negative effects, I chose to look at the silver linings, such as getting one last opportunity to make memories at Davidson. The agility I relearned also affected my relationships. Throughout my recovery, my friends and family supported me and inspired me to maintain my agility. Today, I continue to surround myself with supportive, positive people who share the same values.

ms: What would you want your undergrad peers to know or understand about agility - whether you're on the field or off? 

il: When it comes to understanding agility, I want to emphasize that your mind is your most powerful tool. There will always be unexpected challenges or obstacles we have to face in life, both big and small in size. When you face these challenges, stress, feelings of doubt, or other negative thoughts may be unavoidable. These inner experiences might be inevitable, but we can all make a conscious decision on how we will react to the situation at hand. Do not let anyone or anything get in the way of achieving your goals. 

Connect with Izzy here.