Hi Everybody!
My name is Tracy. I'm a fourth-year journalism major at UF, and I will be graduating Spring '08, yikes. I was born in Orange County, Calif., and I grew up in Clearwater, Fla., so I love to the ocean, the beach, boats, fishing and anything to do with the water. I also have been an athlete my whole life. I skipped ballet practice to go play softball with my dad one day in third grade and never made it back to ballet. In high school, I was a state champion volleyball player and played competitive softball for about 12 years until I injured my shoulder and my back, which forced me to give the sport up when I came to college. Once I got to UF, I joined a sorority and have really enjoyed my time there, but I have never lost my love of sports. I grew up with two older brothers, and one of them played football at UCF, so sports have always been a part of my life. I try to play any intramural sports I can from flag football to volleyball. And I don't think there is a better college to be a sports fan, go Gators.
In addition to an interest in sports as a part of fitness, I also have a great interest in general health and fitness. I have a family history of heart disease. My mom has had three heart attacks and my dad has had one heart attack. Therefore, I am always looking for the latest news on cardiovascular health and how to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. My family also is in the medical equipment business.
This class seemed perfect for me because it combined to things that I feel strongly about journalism and health. I have interned with a local newspaper in Clearwater for two years, and I have written freelance articles for the Alligator and the Florida Frontier. As you can see my interest in health and fitness comes from a variety of places. Ulitmately, I am a proponent of health living and staying informed about health, and journalists play a huge role in this goal. I'm looking forward to a great semester.
