Athletic training and sports medicine has always been a passion of mine. Second semester, my freshman year in high school was when I first began to work with the varsity softball team and tryout for the high school team. While participating on this team, I was also working with a travel team for the summer. At practice for my summer team, the day before the season started for my high school team, was one of the most traumatic experiences I 've every gone through in my whole life. Half way through the scrimmage at practice, I was running the bases when I felt a “pop” in my leg and immediately collapsed and screamed for help. At that moment was when my life changed and my softball playing career almost ended. Driving to the emergency room 30 mins away, felt like hours because I was scared out of my mind. …show more content…
I had no idea what he was talking about and asked him to explain. He told me that I had torn my ACL and that I would need surgery within the next couple of weeks, putting an end to my freshman year of softball. Through all the strength training before surgery, the actual surgery, through physical therapy for months afterwards, I realized I loved learning about how all the treatments and tape jobs worked and how they were done. I found myself asking questions about almost everything that was being done to me. Not just for my own injury, but just to gain knowledge about anything I could pick up. I decided about a year after my injury, athletic training and physical therapy were my passions and that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Little did I know that 3 years later, the exact same injury would happen to my other knee and I would change my career path again. This time was different mentally however, every time I would go to physical therapy, I would notice how quiet it was and how only a few people were there at a time. After doing a lot of research on sports medicine, and other professions available
Why I Should be an Athletic Trainer For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated with sports. I started participating in sports when I was about nine, I ran track and played basketball. At that age I fell in love with the nature of sports. It thrilled me to cheer for my favorite teams and I was downright ecstatic when I was the one competing.
Everyone rushed over to me. I saw everyone huddled around me with worried looks on their faces. Everyone was asking if I was OK, but I didn’t answer because I was in so much pain. My coach had me walk to the dugout and poor water on my knee while he got me an icepack. I put the icepack on my knee but it felt like my knee was on fire!
I have known for years that I wanted to work in the realm of health science. I knew that I wanted to do something in sports medicine. When I took a deeper look into sports medicine I learned that there are many areas of sports medicine that you can get licensed in and that the sports medicine part would be a specialty to attach to it. So I took the list as started to look through it at each job that plays an affect in the sport medicine area. I narrowed in on Physical Therapy and then took the time to do some shadowing in it for my senior study.
Ever since I was young I have always wanted to work in the medical field; however, I did not want to be wearing scrubs and working in an office everyday. As a freshman in high school the research papers started to begin. Most were to write about a topic that interests you, where as, others were to write about a future career. This was where my studies to be a Certified Athletic Trainer began. All of the research papers I was assigned I chose to do it on being an Athletic Trainer or a topic in the athletic training field.
When contemplating a career choice, I always knew that I was interested in the sports and medical fields. I just didn’t know exactly what direction to go in those fields of study. Although many of my friends have known for years what their career choice was, I have been somewhat undecided. I came to Indiana Tech knowing that I was interested in the medical field, but I hadn’t decided on anything specific. Throughout the past year, I have had four separate injuries from running, one requiring surgery.
Project 2: Writing in Sports Medicine Olivia Bunton Department of English: Missouri State University ENG 210: Writing Across the Disciplines Jordan Trevarthen March 12, 2023 Abstract Project 2 discusses the discipline of sports medicine and its writings. This includes what sports medicine is, how it has changed, and multiple aspects of research in the field. Along with an explanation of these concepts, an additional article from Bear Works is examined and analyzed as a reflection of writing in the discipline of sports medicine. When making the important decision of choosing a major, it is extremely beneficial to truly understand the field chosen and all that it entails. This includes an understanding of what the field is, how it has changed, what questions are being considered, and how professionals are obtaining this information and relaying it.
The first unique quality that I can bring to this program is dependability. One thing that I am very proud of is that I have never missed or skipped a class in college. I take my classes very seriously and will do the same for the classes and observation hours in the program. This Athletic Training Program requires early hour observations and I think my dependable character can be trusted by the staff that I will always show up, which is sometimes the most important thing.
Athletic Trainer Athletic trainer is the best career for me because it will bring me personal joy, financial stability, and opportunities to help others. First, a career in athletic training it would bring me great personal satisfaction. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have been the type of person who becomes concerned for my friends’ health . I always feel that I can in some way make their lives better. This is exactly the type of work that a athletic trainer does on a daily basis.
I faced different levels of injuries and sought their guidance when I needed recovery. They inspired me to become an athletic trainer. Because of them, I have found what I am passionate about and want to pursue. My goal is to learn new information while also using my previous knowledge to earn this degree. After I complete my degree, I hope to start training at the collegiate level.
My ACL Tear Journey At The Hospital A quick turn on a soccer field led me to the worst experience in my life. A while back in my sophomore year I tore my ACL while I was practicing for my first soccer game of the school year. I made a quick turn without positioning my feet correctly on the ground. I thought that I broke my knee, but I never knew that after that day I would have experienced the worst day a month after on February 15th.
It was a beautiful Friday afternoon playing softball for only a short amount of time until I noticed a pain that was constant and was not going away. I continued to play not thinking it was something serious. Soon after my arm went numb and tingly, everyone was very concerned, especially my parents. I went to multiply doctors until we found out what was wrong, I had an inflamed and irritated rotator cuff and an inflamed tendon. I did not think I would ever play again and neither did my teammates, coaches, and family members.
As I was making my way down a hill, I could hear coach Olson in the background telling me to keep going. I was so tired of running and out of breath I shook my head at him. No matter how painful the cramps were or how thin the air was passing through my lungs, coach reminded me that I can do this, I was strong enough, and to believe in myself. I knew all the hard work I have put into the season and I knew I have been through worse amount of pain.
A few weeks later, similar injuries impacted my body, so I immediately decided to go to physical therapy in order to get me back on my feet - literally. All in all, I was fascinated with the work physical therapists did: From treating injuries, to rehabilitation, and to providing individuals with the confidence to continue with their passions. As a result of this experience, I proceeded to taking a class within my school, known as Regional Occupational Program, that dealt with healthcare professions. Little did I know that I would discover a philanthropic side to me that would lead me to want to pursue a career in the healthcare
My most challenging experience to date is being assistant coach to a local girls’ football team. I sustained a triple fracture to my ankle and whilst recovering, was advised to cease playing to avoid sustaining further damage. The slow recovery time became a test of endurance and taught me an invaluable lesson of being patient and understanding. By this time, my sister had become interested in playing and having introduced her to a local girls’ team, I decided to undertake the role of assistant coach.
Wholeheartedly In As I lifted my leg up once more on my Biodex testing, I knew it was enough to release me. It was enough to release me from one full year of vigorous exercises, from one full year of grueling pain, and from one full year of strengthening my ACL. And in that release, I knew I found my calling in the field of physical therapy. I was left with a burning passion to heal others by the tender care that my own physical therapists gave to me. This injury sparked my ambition to pursue a career in physical therapy.