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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – After a lifetime of balancing academics and track & field, UTRGV senior Tristan Solis got the moment he worked for when he learned he was accepted into the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Throughout his time as a student-athlete at UTRGV, Solis learned that failure is a part of growth and an important lesson in his journey in both athletics and academics. Some days were difficult with little time to catch a break. Feelings of stress and doubt would put a burden on Solis at times, leaving him contemplating if his dreams could even be something he could accomplish.
“I would feel overwhelmed at times. There was a certain point where I was like, ‘Is medical school a path that I can acquire?'” he admitted. “Then I realized, no matter if I fail and I don’t get in this cycle, I just got to keep trying, because that’s what I’ve wanted since I was a little kid.”
Solis had to take 15 hours of science courses and practice five days a week over the course of the 2026 spring semester. His days started with classes from 8 to 10:45 a.m., followed by practice and weight room sessions which kept him busy from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., and his evenings were spent studying. Balancing grades while being consistent in practice was a process he admits to being very tough but ultimately necessary to accomplish his goals.
Additionally, Solis had to face the rigorous challenge of taking the MCAT, which is an eight-hour exam consisting of 230 multiple choice questions across four sections ranging from chemistry and physics to psychology and sociology. After not achieving a score that he was happy with on his first attempt, he studied for eight to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the summer. His persistence paid offwhen he earned his desired score on the second try.
As a first-generation college student, his family couldn’t always relate to Solis’ struggles, but their belief in him never wavered. Along with his familial support, he learned to relax and take self-care days to find peace when he wasn’t studying. With friends and family by his side from the start, Solis was able to overcome any obstacles in his path to achieving a life-long goal.
Solis was with his family when he learned of his acceptance into medical school, and their joy made the moment that much sweeter for him.
“My biggest support and influence is my parents,” he said. “My family always provided me everything I needed, and they’ve pushed me to where they’ve gotten me today. We were all crying a little bit (when I got my acceptance) because they were with me through the whole path. They knew how hard it was.”
Solis now looks ahead to becoming a physician with a specialization in orthopedics.
He credits his background as a discus thrower for helping him prepare for the precision required to become a physician. He explained that being an athlete is “95% mental” with discus throwing being more about technique rather than speed and strength. The focus and discipline needed to compete are qualities that are easily translated to the operating room.
“If I want to be a surgeon, I have to be very technical and detailed when I’m giving a person surgery because one little mistake can obviously mess up the procedure and can change a person’s life,” Solis said.
Solis is also a Luminary Scholar, a program unique to UTRGV that pays for education-related expenses, including medical school, allowing him to graduate debt-free. He was granted the scholarship after demonstrating strong academic ability and pledging to work in the Rio Grande Valley for an equivalent number of years to the years of education that are funded after graduation. Solis was announced as the Lou Hassel Award winner at the 2025-26 V Awards held April 20, earning recognition as the male senior student-athlete with the highest GPA who competed during the academic year.
The ability to stay in the Rio Grande Valley for medical school is also an important part of Solis’ journey. He aspires to give back to the community that raised and poured into him by opening his own clinic in the future. He also has a dream to return to UTRGV Athletics as the orthopedic surgeon for the Vaqueros.
“I feel like sometimes people have a bad perception of going to the doctor or going to the hospital,” he said. “I just want to be able to bring a positive mindset or just a positive experience to the Valley when it comes to medicine.”
After years of grueling days, Solis is no longer chasing his childhood dream. He’s at the start of it, with the goal not just being to heal, but to give back to the community that shaped him into the person he is today.
“Anything can be done with whatever workload you have,” Solis said. “If you want something bad enough, you will get it. You just have to fight for your dreams.”
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