Personal Narrative: Student Athletic Training Program

The summer before my senior year, I suddenly realized I had in four years, only collected ten volunteer hours out of the sixty required to earn an honors diploma. Quickly, I began scouring the internet and local listings for any possible opportunities which I would be able to earn hours. The perfect opportunity had been right in front of me for all four years, and I hadn’t even realized; Kenston offers a student athletic training program where students are able to shadow the school athletic trainer and learn the basics of athletic training and first aid. I emailed the athletic trainer who I vaguely knew from having been mildly concussed my previous lacrosse season , and asked if I would be able to join in volunteering during the football …show more content…
However, after entering the public school system at age five, I quickly learned my personality was not what most kids got along with, and I shut myself away, hiding behind a cold exterior and pessimistic attitude. The mask I’d built was on and off throughout my life, but had grown strong my junior year due to family separation and various health issues with immediate family. I knew I would not be able to handle having my last year of high school be the same as my previous, and I saw athletic training as an opportunity to get out of the house, try something new, and socialize with people I would normally never talk to. The football players first saw me as the new girl, the one who was temporary and didn’t talk much. I began to prove myself worthy to our athletic trainer, becoming her right hand when she was busy, and in extension gained the players respect. I realized my newfound respect when one of the players approached me for advice on how to handle a possible concussion. I ran him through the normal procedure, and told him to report immediately to our athletic trainer. I told our athletic trainer about his condition, and I was praised for how I handled the situation. I also became the go to person for mouth guards, as the coaches had preached “accountability” to our players and if they didn’t keep track of theirs or have one for practice and games, there would be many laps to run the next day. I had gained an overall position of respect while also creating lasting friendships I never would have thought would be possible