Wondering why she needed to clock in so early, Ms. Alexia Clark, as known as Lex, entered the athletic training room at 9 a.m., her usual arrival time being 12 p.m. As the athletic director gave her a call, she made her way to his office, unsure of what to expect. Finally, Lex was redirected to open the door of the gymnasium, where she was greeted with applauses from a crowd of student-athletes and news channels.
In celebration of National Self-Care Month, Coral Gables Senior High’s very own athletic trainer Lex was honored with the “Making a difference ON and OFF the field” award on Sept. 27, given by Buddy’s Helpers. A national campaign running for the 93rd consecutive month since December 2015, this program has recognized school faculty members and staff throughout the U.S. who stand out, sometimes discovered from nominations by other school principals, just like in Lex’s case.
“I know Lex is extremely deserving of this award because she’s always helping others and making sure they get their recognition so it was time for her to get hers,” junior Valentina Tomas said.
To celebrate this achievement, local news channels such as NBC 6 and WSVN were invited to campus, eager to hear what her work specifically entailed. Gables was placed in the spotlight, a significant feat as it gave the school exposure on the hidden gems found within its walls.
As a soccer player and big fan of InterMiami, Lex was also rewarded with two tickets to the next game.
“Definitely an InterMiami fan, hard not to be a soccer fan when I played soccer and its been part of my life since I was three. It’s going to be an exciting experience, some of the physicians I work with are the physicians there so that is kind of exciting, seeing the medical side of the game,” athletic trainer Alexia Clark said.
As an advocate of self-care, she gives daily reminders to her students that drinking a bottle of water is not enough, with nutrition being equally as important, and this award, along with a donation made on her behalf to a charity organization of her choice, highlights her perseverance.
“Sometimes they are not customized to having those feelings [of looking out for their own health], especially so young. My job here is to kind of teach them as much about themselves as I can because they are going to be their biggest advocate. If I can teach them how to help [themselves], then it helps me,” Lex said.
An athletic trainer does not have a set end time to each day. If a game gets extended into extra time, Lex is always there, ready to lend a hand. Working mostly behind the scenes, she is sometimes the only health professional that students see throughout their high school career.
“Again it’s cool [for Lex to have received this award] and obviously I was just saying to your principal: people who did not know about Lex will now know about Lex, and people who knew about her will get an opportunity to truly say thank you,” director of Buddy’s Helpers Joe Trost said.
From a cramp to a serious concussion, Gables athletes make their first stop visiting her. Attending to the problem as soon as it arises brings the injured player reassurance, many times needed for their mental health, especially after getting sidelined.
“My freshmen year, I had gone to her because I was sore and she was like “suck it up, you are out of shape” and she just told me to grow up. She is getting the recognition she deserves, she is a great athletic trainer,” senior Julian Gonzalez said.
Lex’s impact on the Gables athletic community is priceless; she goes above and beyond, even leading a program where she coaches students who are considering becoming athletic trainers in the future. They learn hands-on the job in all its forms, from carrying iced water jugs and learning how to treat an injured player to the most crucial, taking care of themselves.
“She told me to fight for what I love and if I truly want it and put in the effort for it, I can achieve what I set my mind to. She does not only help with sport related things, she makes sure that the athletic training students are doing well in every aspect: mentally, physically, academically and emotionally,” junior Tomas said.
Making her mark with the athletic community and student body, Lex has always been there and will continue to be. This award serves as a reminder of how her work will keep changing the lives of many.
“I was a very shy girl, I did not talk at all, and now I am a senior [athletic trainer] officer and that is because of her. She has helped me through everything and I just want to say how grateful I am,” senior Martina Gonzalez said.
