to me. That meant I had to perform and step out of my comfort zone into a new level of performance. If I am going to run my own practice one day, these are the kinds of opportunities I must chase after. Serving on the executive board has been one of the best growing experiences for me, and it is an honor to serve SLF at one of the highest levels.” Noah is excited for all that is to come for Student LIFEforce and himself as he continues through his journey at Life University. He says, “We are capable of so much more as humans, and it is my mission to unlock that innate potential within everyone.” Valerie Odorico, SLF Student LIFEforce President Student LIFEforce President Valerie Odorico first came to know Chiropractic after a major traumatic and life-changing facial and brain injury when she was just 16, and Chiropractic saved her life. Graduating from the University of North Georgia with a degree in Technical Theatre and Sociology, Valerie says it wasn’t until visiting her chiropractor in Sandy Springs, who is rooted in Vitalism and Lasting Purpose, that she wanted to become a chiropractor herself. Valerie says, “The chiropractors who saved my life were highly principled in the belief that the power that made the body heals the body. Life University has honored the idea of Vitalism and the innate intelligence of the body in a way that I did not see in other schools. I felt at home and understood for the first time in my belief system when I attended LIFE Leadership Weekend (LLW). I knew I had to be on this campus for my chiropractic education and that I wanted to be a member of Student LIFEforce.” What originally drew Valerie to Student LIFEforce were the active members she spoke with during her LIFE Leadership Weekend experience, as well as the LIFEforce mission statement: We will not stop until everyone on the planet has access to chiropractic care or and a chiropractic education if they so choose. Valerie states, “I want to make sure everyone I speak with knows they have the option to experience exceptional care from a chiropractor. I want to be a leader for my community as a chiropractor and that starts in the education process. I have been on many executive boards during high school, undergrad and professionally as a reflexologist before this program. I’ve learned in my experience that the only way to grow into my best self is to leap outside of my comfort zone. It has been a privilege to continue my leadership training in the role of president of this wonderful Student LIFEforce tribe.” Melanie Reyes Margolla, Student LIFEforce Vice President Melanie Reyes Margolla, Student LIFEforce Vice President, received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo and had every intention of continuing on to medical school when she witnessed first-hand the power of Chiropractic when suggesting a chiropractor to one of her students at the time. These adjustments changed the students life, and Melanie says, “From that moment, I decided that if I wanted to see changes, I had to be part of it.” Melanie collected a group of students from an association she participated in to attend a LIFE Leadership Weekend in 2017 where, “That weekend changed the rest of my story. I fell in love with the vision that the University projected. That day, I decided I was going to turn down my medical school offer.” Melanie says, “The mission and vision of Student LIFEforce based on Lasting Purpose is what drew me to the Tribe.” She continues, “From the first day I met them, I knew that I wanted to live the experience of spreading the message of Chiropractic with other communities and students and to live and honor everything with Lasting Purpose.” Melanie says when it came to leading in Student LIFEforce, “I decided that I wanted to be a voice for my community and my tribe, to help others and lead by example. I want to be the person who students can relate to and feel confident to be around, to guide them and be a mentor the same way [previous Student LIFEforce Vice Presidents] Olivia Porpora and Dr. Jenene Cherney were for me.” Jordy Carlé, Student LIFEforce Community Engagement Jordy Carlé, an international student from Belgium, explains finding Life University was just as the saying goes, “You don’t find Chiropractic. Chiropractic finds you.” Jordy continues to say, “The thought of flying across oceans to come to Life University and study felt both wonderful and terrifying. While many individuals deserve my gratitude for facilitating my journey here, ultimately, it was the alignment of my dreams, the philosophy of the institution, and the magnificence of Chiropractic that came together and brought me to this point. Jordy is currently completing his undergraduate degree program while being dual enrolled in the D.C. program. He has been an active member of Student LIFEforce since the 2021 Winter Quarter and says, “SLF embodies the very essence of my commitment to the chiropractic profession. Countless individuals can benefit from chiropractic care, while mostly being unaware of this potential.” In conversation with Dr. Gilles LaMarche, Jordy was struck by Dr. LaMarche’s statement, “How can you possess such knowledge and not share it with others?” With this, Jordy states, “For as long as I breathe, the chiropractic profession shall have my full dedication toward it.” One way he does this is through service, and explicitly living his life through Lasting Purpose: To Give, To Do, To Love, To Serve, out of a sense of abundance, without any expectation in return. Jordy says, “That is to me what life itself is all about. By serving others, a natural cycle of reciprocal service will be set in motion.” He continues, “Service within the realm of Chiropractic will forever be a part of my journey, and receiving a leadership role in Student LIFEforce is only the beginning of this commitment.” 23 Alumni.life.edu | 2023