After Army service, Lipscomb graduate finds new mission in human performance
Kim Chaudoin |
Otilio Torres Davila’s path to Lipscomb University has taken him across countries and callings.
Born and raised in Guatemala, Torres Davila has lived in Nashville for the past eight years. Along the way, he has served in the U.S. Army, studied at several colleges, discovered a passion for exercise science and found a renewed sense of faith and purpose.
In May, Torres Davila received his Master of Science degree in exercise and human performance from Lipscomb, marking the latest milestone in a journey shaped by discipline, service, family and a desire to help others become stronger.
“I chose Lipscomb for my master’s degree as I heard amazing things about their exercise and human performance master program,” he said.
Before coming to Lipscomb, Torres Davila earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science with a minor in strength and conditioning from Belmont University. But his road to that field was not direct.
Before and during his military service, Torres Davila attended three different schools and was studying criminology. His classroom experiences at the time left him discouraged.
“The professors were not very engaging or passionate, which almost led me to leave school and pursue something else,” he said. “Once I arrived to Belmont University, I changed my mind as professors were very passionate and caring.”
That experience continued at Lipscomb, where Torres Davila said he found faculty who were not only knowledgeable, but deeply invested in their students’ success.
“As I transitioned to Lipscomb, I realized that the professors here were some of the best,” he said. “The way they explained the material was very noticeable that they are very knowledgeable and passionate about this field. Also, they were very understanding of circumstances and worked as hard as us, students, to make sure we succeed.”
Torres Davila brought with him to the classroom a perspective shaped by six years of military service. He served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer, beginning as a private first class and completing his service as a sergeant. His responsibilities included conducting law enforcement operations and helping maintain safety on military bases, including areas where military families lived and sensitive areas. He also served as a team leader, responsible for the welfare and training of three to four soldiers.
His assignments took him to Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Stuttgart, Germany; and Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
“My military experience showed me different cultures and how a person’s upbringing affects their way of life and their thought process,” said Torres Davila. “This led me to be very accepting of everyone and more compassionate.”
“As I served in different places, I was able to learn different perspectives and experiences that led me to be more intrigued to seek knowledge,” he continued. “As I learn more, I realize there’s so much more to seek. I am able to connect with so many different people as I am very interested to learn their perspectives, which has led me to care more for school as well.”
His time at Lipscomb also shaped him spiritually.
Torres Davila said that when he came to the university, he was not very open to having Jesus in his life. Christianity had been “pushed” into his life as a young child, he said, and through different life circumstances he began to push away from faith, even though he still believed.
“As I heard some of my professors and very close friends of mine talk about Jesus and how they have different unique relationships with Him, I started accepting him back into my life and creating my own relationship with Him,” he said. “I started taking Him into my heart as He is with me every day, and life has proved me over and over again that I am blessed and loved by him.”
After graduation, Torres Davila is continuing to build experience in the fitness field. He has been training at Nelson Fitness 1440, where he said he has had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people. His long-term goal is to own a boxing and performance gym that combines his love for the sport with his passion for helping others improve their lives.
“I would love to combine both in order to keep bettering people,” he said. “I have much love for the sport of boxing as it was what taught me discipline and helped me to start trying harder in high school and be able to go to college.”
For Torres Davila, that motivation is also deeply personal.
He credits his fiancée, Jenna, and his 6-year-old daughter, Lila, as two of the most important sources of encouragement and inspiration throughout his college career. His mother, Reyna, and his sisters, Leslie and Kimberly, have also supported and cheered him on.
“Everyone needs a support group as doing everything by yourself is very draining,” he said. “My fiancée has always pushed me to do my best and has believed in me throughout my years in college. I want to keep showing my daughter, Lila, that anything is possible in life as long as we want it and chase after it by working hard.”