Figuring it Out While You Go Through College and Life

This week Alyssa and Nadia are joined by former gymnastics teammate Claire Andriola to talk about college, life after graduation, and figuring out what comes next when the plan changes.

Claire shares how she arrived at UC Santa Barbara fully intending to go to medical school. Along the way, research opportunities, patient care experiences, and exposure to different areas of healthcare pushed her to rethink what she wanted. What started as a pre med path eventually led her toward research, psychology, and a much broader view of the field.

After graduation, Claire worked in clinical research before unexpectedly finding herself at a mental health startup. She talks about the transition from academia to the startup world, the opportunities that came from staying open to new experiences, and why she's no longer in a rush to have everything figured out.

The conversation feels familiar to Nadia, who is approaching graduation herself and facing many of the same questions. They talk about gap years, medical school, career uncertainty, and the pressure ambitious people put on themselves to have a clear roadmap.

They also reflect on how gymnastics shaped the way they approach life. The discipline, intensity, and drive that helped them succeed in the sport still show up today, but so does the challenge of knowing when to push harder and when to change course.

It's an honest conversation about growth, uncertainty, and learning to trust that each step will give you the information you need for the next one.

Takeaways

• Changing your career goals does not mean your earlier experiences were wasted
• Every experience teaches you something whether it confirms what you want or what you do not want
• The discipline and resilience from gymnastics continue long after the sport ends
• A lot of career decisions become easier when you stop expecting certainty.
• Sometimes a random conversation can completely change your career path
• Being ambitious and being flexible can exist at the same time
• Gap years can create clarity instead of delaying progress
• You do not need to know your entire future to make a good next decision
• The pressure to have everything figured out is often self imposed
• Learning who you are is just as important as choosing what you do

Chapters

• 0:10 – 2:02 Introducing Claire and Catching Up
• 2:02 – 4:14 Studying Biopsychology at UC Santa Barbara
• 4:14 – 7:25 Moving Away from the Medical School Plan
• 7:25 – 9:48 Gymnastics Intensity and Personal Values
• 9:48 – 12:13 From Clinical Research to Startup Life
• 12:13 – 15:24 Graduate School and Future Plans
• 15:24 – 18:10 Why One on One Connections Matter
• 18:10 – 20:32 Nadia Looks Ahead to Graduation
• 20:32 – 23:50 Learning to Live with Uncertainty
• 23:50 – 27:35 Gymnastics Identity and Finding Balance
• 27:35 – 30:20 Choosing Your Own Path
• 30:20 – 34:40 Advice for Students About to Graduate
• 34:40 – 38:23 Looking Ahead and Final Thoughts

650.701.7686 (o)

650.332.2739 (f)

510.673.8712 (m)

Sports & Dance Rehab | Pilates | Group Classes

On the Move Physical Therapy

501-D Old County Rd.

Belmont, CA 94002

web - http://www.onthemovephysio.com

email - alyssa@onthemovephysio.com

IG - https://www.instagram.com/onthemovephysio