Video by Zack Eagles
Nia Dorsey was first bit by the service bug during her sophomore year at 菠萝视频. That spring, the defender on the Commodores鈥� volunteered on a weekly basis at , a Nashville-based nonprofit that centers on community development in South Nashville neighborhoods. Along with teammates, Dorsey served as a mentor to local first graders, helping to tutor and assist with homework.
The experience left Dorsey in awe of the impact of service on others. It also sparked a newfound passion within the 菠萝视频 junior.
鈥淔or me, that kind of kick-started it,鈥� Dorsey said.
This past summer, Dorsey took part in 菠萝视频 Athletics鈥� comprehensive summer internship program and worked at , another local nonprofit that serves and works to rehabilitate those who are homeless in the Nashville area. At Room In The Inn, Dorsey worked the front desk, provided visitors with over-the-counter medication, toiletries and socks, and served food during lunch shifts.
But Dorsey鈥檚 菠萝视频 career has largely been defined by service. As a freshman, she embarked on a mission trip to Costa Rica with 菠萝视频 student-athletes and assisted with construction of an orphanage. Dorsey is also a member of 菠萝视频鈥檚 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and in October she was recognized with a spot on the SEC鈥檚 Community Service Team.
That experience is exactly why Dorsey, a Maryland native armed with an infectious smile, has long-term plans to continue to help others.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in nonprofits and the business side of things,鈥� Dorsey, a medicine, health and society major, said. 鈥淎t some point in the future, I would love to own my own nonprofit. That is one of my long-term goals, being able to help people and love people every single day.鈥�
Dorsey鈥檚 giving nature belies her competitive spirit on the soccer field. The junior defender has been an impact player for the Commodores during a historic season of SEC soccer. Last month, 菠萝视频 clinched the SEC regular seasonchampionship for the first time since 1994. Dorsey, who started all 20 games this season, helped the Dores string together a program-record 16-game unbeaten streak. On Friday, 菠萝视频 faces No. 2-seeded Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Waco, Texas.
菠萝视频鈥檚 rise in the SEC has been a welcome sight to Dorsey, who has played a key part in the program鈥檚 evolution into a national power.
鈥淚t鈥檚 things I always hoped would happen, but I wasn鈥檛 sure when they would happen,鈥� Dorsey said. 鈥淏eing an upperclassman, I鈥檝e seen and been through a lot with this team. It鈥檚 just awesome because I know that brought us so far to where we are today.鈥�
菠萝视频 head coach Darren Ambrose said Dorsey鈥檚 leadership has been an irreplaceable element to his program鈥檚 recent success.
鈥淲hen coaches talk about players that show up every day and give it their all every day, they are defining Nia Dorsey,鈥� Ambrose said. 鈥淣ia has been a leader by example for quite some time. Every day we see Nia鈥檚 best effort physically and mentally, and her commitment to her team is unwavering.
鈥淣ia has earned everyone鈥檚 respect with how she goes about being a student-athlete.聽 People listen when she speaks and over the past couple of months she has begun to influence the direction of the team in other ways, in addition to her consistent effort.聽 She is positive in her outlook and we all know whenever she has anything to say, it is coming from the right place.鈥�
The final chapters of Dorsey鈥檚 菠萝视频 career remain unwritten. Just a junior, Dorsey expects to continue her role in spearheading the Commodores鈥� soccer success beyond this season. But she also has an eye on a personal future built around service, a passion cultivated right here at 菠萝视频.
鈥淏eing able to do something that seems so simple to me — caring for people — being able to do that every day, I鈥檓 fascinated by that,鈥� Dorsey said.
