Me and my college soccer team (Second on the right side line)
Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old and learned other sports as I grew up. When I got to high school, I played soccer, basketball and softball. I was introduced to the world of Athletic Training when I badly sprained my ankle at a travel soccer game. I had to get it x-rayed and spent a few weeks in an air-cast and on crutches. When I was cleared to play sports again, I had to go into the Athletic Training room to get my ankle taped. I was fascinated by everything that went on in there and all of the different types of tape jobs I saw. It was then that I realized that I could put together the two things I enjoyed the most, sports and helping people out. I took anatomy and physiological classes and worked in the Athletic Training room after school and before practices. I went on to college and continued to play sports, work in the Athletic Training room, and get my degree in Kinesiology. I took a year off from school and moved on to grad school at Bridgewater State University.
(One of my high school clinical sites football team made it to the super bowl)
Since being at Bridgewater and being at a few different clinical sites, I have learned so much. My most memorable time was when the football team at my high school clinical site made it to the super bowl. It was a great first time clinical experience where I learned how to interact with the athletes and how different each athlete reacts to a situation. Since then my confidence in dealing with athletes has improved and I look forward for new experiences to arrise at clinical. To me this profession involves learning all the time and to me that is important with all the changing techniques. I also feel as though an athlete should be mentally and physically capable to return to play after an injury, which means a good rehabilitation program.
Hopefully I'll be able to find interesting articles and information that will help provide high school athelets and Athletic Trainers with the new topics in the field. Stay tuned!
