From Athlete to Advocate: My Journey to Pursuing Athletic Training by Maeve

From Athlete to Advocate: My Journey to Pursuing Athletic Training by Maeve - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a current college student, I have made the choice to major in Athletic Training because of my personal experiences as an athlete and the impact injuries have had on my life and those around me.

When I was 13, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder while attempting a crossover turn between backstroke and breaststroke. It hurt to lift my arm, and there was a noticeable tension in my muscles. When I told my coach, their response was simply, “swim it off.” That response stuck with me not just because of the pain, but because it made me realize how often injuries in non-contact sports like swimming are overlooked or minimized.

Swimming involves repetitive motion, and when proper form is compromised, injury often occurs. Through conversations with teammates from various swim teams, I discovered a common issue: we weren’t taught how to prevent injuries, and once injured, we had little access to proper care or recovery support.

That experience sparked a realization: athletes like me shouldn't be expected to just push through pain. There had to be a better way. Two years later, while on my high school swim team, I met my first athletic trainer. Though he didn’t work directly with the swim team, I saw firsthand how athletic trainers help athletes prevent and recover from injury. My interest deepened when I took a sports medicine class during my senior year. We learned about kinesiology, taping, and injury treatment, and it was there that I realized I wanted to pursue athletic training not just as a passion, but as a career.

Outside of sports, I work as a lifeguard during summers and on campus. I thrive in high-pressure situations and love knowing I can be the first person someone relies on in an emergency. There is something incredibly fulfilling about being able to help someone when they need it most and that is exactly what athletic trainers do every day

As a student athlete, who progressed through a sport with little concern for injuries, I have developed a strong interest in the prevention and treatment of injuries. My desire is to be the person that provides maximum help and immediate care in the presence of sports’ injury. I no longer want to see athletes getting repeated or more severe injuries because of inadequate help. My goal is to prevent athletes from having the same experience as I did because they lacked the resources and care to handle injuries. It is important to me that I contribute to the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries for athletes because I understand the feeling of being defeated when not knowing what to do next.

Majoring in Athletic Training will give me the tools I need to make a real difference. It is important to me to be part of the solution so that no athlete ever feels as helpless as I once did.