My name is Blake Heffron, and I am currently a junior at the University of Dubuque double majoring in Flight Operations and Aviation Management with a minor in Accounting. I am a slot receiver for the University of Dubuque football team. I am originally from Gilbert, Arizona, where I graduated from Chandler High School in 2024. Coming to the University of Dubuque has taught me that physical and mental wellness are closely connected. As an athlete, it is easy to focus mostly on physical health, but I have learned that taking care of your mind is just as important. One of the biggest experiences that changed the way I think about wellness was suffering a season-ending injury. Football is a major part of my life, so being told that I would not be able to finish the season was extremely difficult. The injury affected more than just my ability to play. It tested me mentally and made me deal with frustration, disappointment, and uncertainty. I had to adjust to watching my teammates compete instead of being on the field with them. That experience showed me that mental wellness cannot be separated from physical wellness, especially when an injury changes something that is important to you. Growing up, I was often told to push through difficult situations and keep my emotions to myself. At the University of Dubuque, I have learned that it is okay to not be okay and that asking for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. I have been able to express what I am feeling through weekly check-ins with my coach, and those conversations have helped me handle challenges in a healthier way. My experience with injury also taught me how important it is to seek help when you need it instead of trying to deal with everything on your own. Great teammates have also played a major role in my mental and physical wellness. My teammates have created a safe environment where I can talk about things that are bothering me. They have bought into our mental health program and have shown me that being a good teammate means supporting each other away from the field as well as on it. During my injury, having teammates who continued to check on me and include me helped me feel like I was still an important part of the team. Their support reminded me that an athlete’s identity should be about more than whether they are able to play. Another topic I have had to work through is homesickness. Being far away from Gilbert made me realize how much I value my family and the everyday conversations I used to take for granted. While other students could sometimes go home on weekends, I could only make it back about once a year. The football program and the people around me helped fill some of that distance by giving me a new family that supports me. Having people I can rely on has made a major difference in my overall well-being. Overall, my time at the University of Dubuque has taught me that wellness is more than staying physically healthy or performing well on the football field. It also means recognizing when something is affecting you mentally, being willing to talk about it, and allowing other people to support you. My season-ending injury made that lesson especially clear. I have learned that strong teammates, supportive coaches and staff, and being willing to seek help can make difficult situations more manageable. These experiences are helping me become not only a better athlete, but also a better man, teammate, student, and family member.
