UNF soccer player’s injury kick starts passion for physical therapy
Michael Carrero held his breath as the doctor pulled up the x-ray.
He learned his foot was broken and a metal screw would be inserted during surgery. He was told his ability to play soccer may never be the same.
As he was just about to begin his sophomore season as a student-athlete on the University of North Florida men's soccer team, hearing the prognosis was almost more painful than the injury itself.
Carrero started playing soccer at age four and had defined himself as a soccer player for his entire life. It shaped his childhood, his identity and his dreams.
This heart-breaking moment would come to change his life in ways he could not have imagined.
Now set to graduate from UNF this summer with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a minor in leadership, Carrero discovered through his faith and community that he was so much more than just a star soccer player.
Redefining expectations
Born and raised by Puerto Rican parents in Orlando, Carrero grew up with a deep love for the game. He committed to the UNF men’s soccer team as a high school junior and started on scholarship in June 2022.
He was at the top of his game when the foot injury stopped him in his tracks, forcing him to step down from playing collegiate soccer.
“Soccer was my identity and an important part of my life,” said Carrero. “The injury was devastating. It forced me to examine who I was outside of the game and define myself as more than my performance.”
While recovering, he met Ariana Munoz, a student-athlete on the UNF women’s soccer team who was also injured at the time. Their shared struggle became the foundation of something much more, culminating in the two getting married last December. Munoz earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at UNF in 2022 and will graduate with her doctorate degree in physical therapy from UNF in the spring.
“We met each other during a really difficult period of our lives and were able to support each other through our struggles," said Carrero. “Getting plugged into student communities, clubs, an amazing church group and spending time with teammates helped so much.”
Without soccer practice and games to drive him each day, Carrero devoted himself fully to his undergraduate studies, deepening in his faith, serving in the community and spending quality time with those in his support system.
Finding strength through serving others
Going through his career-devastating injury solidified Carrero’s decision in 2024 to pursue his doctorate degree in physical therapy. The heart of the profession resonated with his own personal experiences in rehabilitation, seeing the positive impact of serving others by assisting them during difficult injuries.
He began working as a physical therapy technician at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital’s Bartram Campus in July 2024 while continuing his studies. He has worked more than 1,500 hours supporting physical, speech and occupational therapists in daily patient care and therapy activities amongst neurological, geriatric and orthopedic patient populations.
“Being able to help people learn how to walk again and learn from some of the best clinicians in the field while working at Brooks definitely solidified my desire to pursue a physical therapy career,” said Carrero. “I’ve always had a deep passion to serve others, and I believe that this field truly embodies that heart posture. It’s a blessing and honor to work with patients through some of their most difficult times and a beacon that reminds me to strive to constantly serve others with the care shown to me when I was in my recovery process.”
During his time at UNF, Carrero also pursued a leadership minor, studying with Dr. Matthew Ohlson and staff at the Taylor Leadership Institute (TLI), crediting the program with strengthening his patient practice by contributing to his service leadership skills.
Carrero went on to develop and lead a student organization called UNF Leading Ospreys, centered around exemplifying leadership through service. Striving to impact Jacksonville with community outreach events, the group volunteered and collaborated with organizations like the Salvation Army to serve meals to the city’s homeless population and Kim's Open Door to serve the local youth refugee population by conducting food drives and teaching soccer clinics for the kids under their care.
“I truly believe that at the heart of great leaders is the desire to serve first,” said Carrero. “It’s a foundational principal that I live by - if serving is beneath you, then leadership will always be beyond you.”
For his work with Leading Ospreys, he was awarded the TLI’s 2024 student leadership award. He was also selected, along with Munoz, to speak at UNF's fall 2024 Convocation ceremony.
Seeing the light in darkness
“My injury felt so isolating at first, but I've learned through my college journey that we are not created to live this life alone," said Carrero. “UNF helped me to develop such a strong community that I will always be so grateful for.”
He credits his faith for keeping him centered on his journey, including spending time at the church of Eleven 22 and participating with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes student organization on campus.
After graduation this summer, he will begin his journey towards his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Florida in the fall. It is a meaningful goal for him and his parents as Carrero will be the first doctor in his family.
While soccer was a crucial part of his early life, he now defines himself as so much more than a former soccer player. He’s a Chrisitan, a husband, a leader, community volunteer, student physical therapist and above all, a person with a story and testimony that he hopes will inspire others going forward. He is living out his dream in ways he never could have imagined.
“I believe God works all things for the good of those who love him and even the hard times are all part of his good purpose,” said Carrero. “My injury truly turned out to be a beautiful thing that I will always be thankful for.”