By Courtney Hill | Olympics.com
Michelle Alozie is more than just a football player.
A morning of training with the Houston Dash is often followed by an afternoon spent at the lab, where the Nigerian works as a cancer research technician. Alozie’s first love was football, but when her boots aren’t laced up she is driven by the desire to help people, working specifically with young children.
“At the end of the day, it’s a passion,” she told ABC 13.
“I’m fighting for this little girl inside of me who has always wanted to play soccer, and has always wanted to be an awesome, cool doctor.”
While the science career is part-time during the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season in in the U.S., she transitions into more full-time research during the off-season.
But for right now, Alozie is relishing in splitting her focus between her first love and her passion project.
Michelle Alozie: “I have a passion for helping people”
Alozie may be known for what she does on the field, but off it she has a Bachelors Degree in Molecular Biology from Yale.
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Her fascination with the medical industry had initially prompted her to want to go into cardiology; but then came Texas Children’s Hospital.
There, the 26-year-old is able to tap into her passion for helping people.
“It’s amazing to meet these young kids that I’m helping find a cure for their cancer,” she explained in an interview with FIFA. “It means everything to me.
“Childhood cancer isn’t something that is researched that much; being able to be part of that research is such a blessing.”
If training ends at 13:00, the Nigerian is quick to head across to the children’s hospital and pick up her research until 17:00, even going in on free weekends.
With such a commitment to both, finding the right balance is critical.
“I think sometimes I might feel like I’m not doing enough for either soccer or in my research lab.
“At first it was definitely a little bit difficult to balance the two, but I think overall I’m just grateful. It’s two of my passions and what makes it worthwhile is that I just love doing both of them.
“It is amazing and a blessing to be able to live my passion and my childhood dream.”
She may not have the title of Doctor just yet, but medical school is on the horizon for Alozie when her “bones are brittle”.
“Hopefully in a few years they can call me Dr Alozie – but now I just need to be Michelle.”
Alozie may be known for what she does on the field, but off it she has a Bachelors Degree in Molecular Biology from Yale.
Her fascination with the medical industry had initially prompted her to want to go into cardiology; but then came Texas Children’s Hospital.
There, the 26-year-old is able to tap into her passion for helping people.
“It’s amazing to meet these young kids that I’m helping find a cure for their cancer,” she explained in an interview with FIFA. “It means everything to me.
“Childhood cancer isn’t something that is researched that much; being able to be part of that research is such a blessing.”
If training ends at 13:00, the Nigerian is quick to head across to the children’s hospital and pick up her research until 17:00, even going in on free weekends.
With such a commitment to both, finding the right balance is critical.
“I think sometimes I might feel like I’m not doing enough for either soccer or in my research lab.
“At first it was definitely a little bit difficult to balance the two, but I think overall I’m just grateful. It’s two of my passions and what makes it worthwhile is that I just love doing both of them.
“It is amazing and a blessing to be able to live my passion and my childhood dream.”
She may not have the title of Doctor just yet, but medical school is on the horizon for Alozie when her “bones are brittle”.
“Hopefully in a few years they can call me Dr Alozie – but now I just need to be Michelle.”
Curled from Olypics.com