2 answers
Jason
Student
Glendale, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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How do I know if this is the right path for my career and my life?
Hello, I am an 18-year-old high school senior planning on attending a 4-year-college and continue to pursue a master's degree to become an athletic trainer. A natural question I ask myself during this stage in my life is "whether this is the right career path for me." Thanks to this opportunity, I wanted to ask, "how did you know you wanted to pursue a career in athletic training" and "do you have any regrets knowing what you know now?" Thank you for any advice.
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2 answers
Zen Morgan MAT LAT ATC PES
Athletic Trainer
8
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Zen’s Answer
Find opportunities to shadow an athletic trainer, or find internships in athletic training. While you are there ask as many questions as you can to as many people as you can. There are also many different career paths in athletic training. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. If you end up going to grad school for athletic training you should get some experience in a couple of different settings. I started working in high schools and am now working for the military.
I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with the body and the way it moves. I have no regrets about my decision to be an athletic trainer.
In a more traditional setting (college, high school, pro sports) the hours can be long but the work can be rewarding. With college and high school there are some breaks (Christmas and summer and other school holidays) where do get time off or at least work less compared to other settings. I was never on call 24/7. It’s import to set boundaries.
A couple of resources to look into the career further are:
nata.org
bocatc.org
Reach out if you have any questions
I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with the body and the way it moves. I have no regrets about my decision to be an athletic trainer.
In a more traditional setting (college, high school, pro sports) the hours can be long but the work can be rewarding. With college and high school there are some breaks (Christmas and summer and other school holidays) where do get time off or at least work less compared to other settings. I was never on call 24/7. It’s import to set boundaries.
A couple of resources to look into the career further are:
nata.org
bocatc.org
Reach out if you have any questions
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1463
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Jason, I love your question and lemme say it’s a big decision, and at 18, it can feel like you're standing at the crossroads of your future. So, here's the thing bud, there’s no perfect formula for knowing if you're on the right path, but I’ll tell you a few things I’ve learned that might help.
First off, passion and dedication is key. Athletic training isn’t just about having the right technical skills but it’s about being truly invested in the process of helping others recover, improve, and stay healthy. If the idea of being that key part of someone's journey excites you, that's a pretty solid sign you're on the right track.
Also, it’s okay to question. There’s this misconception that once you start a path, you’re locked into it. The reality is, it’s a process, not a destination. You can always reassess along the way. I’d recommend spending time shadowing professionals in the field, doing internships, or even talking to people like you are doing here, who’ve been in the industry for a while. If you love it day-to-day, that’s your answer. If not, it’s okay to pivot. The best way you had know is to shadow so just try to go and see how its done or what they do, it will help you a lot to open and understand it better. Its better to do it than to read it.
As for regrets, here’s the truth man, everyone has them at some point, but the trick is learning from them. One thing I’d suggest... really get a solid understanding of what the career entails. It’s a lot of physical work, long hours, and emotional investment. So, knowing all the highs and lows will help you be more confident in your decision.
No matter what, take your time, try things out, and trust that you’ll figure it out as you go. So basically, I’m not in this field myself, but I did speak to a few pros during my own career crisis, and let me tell you, they dropped some serious knowledge on me. And I know you’re probably curious about a few things no one ever tells you about athletic training
1. You’ll spend a LOT of time educating people. Whether it's athletes or coaches, a huge part of the job is explaining injuries, recovery, and even prevention. You’d think the athletes would already know, but many don’t, so it’s a lot of repetition and breaking down complicated concepts into easy-to-understand steps.
2. You’re on call 24/7. It’s not all glamorous moments on the sidelines. Some of the most hectic times are late nights or weekends when an athlete gets injured unexpectedly. That means being on call, always ready to jump in. It’s the price you pay for being the first line of defense in someone’s physical health.
3. It’s mentally draining. Dealing with the pressure of athletes needing to recover quickly, especially after big injuries, can get to you. You’ll feel the weight of their hopes on your shoulders, and that can be exhausting. It’s not just the physical work but the emotional side that drains you, too. But then again some told me if you are passionate about it and dedicated enjoying what you do then not even this strain can stop you.
Andthe hardest thing I was told is that, The recovery process will sometimes feel slow, and that can test your patience. No matter how much you push someone, injuries don’t always heal fast, and the progress can feel like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. You’ll need to stay patient, both with your athletes and with yourself.
Hope that helps, and I’m sure you’ll figure it out Jason, tho feel free to reach out If you need anything at all. All the best bud.
First off, passion and dedication is key. Athletic training isn’t just about having the right technical skills but it’s about being truly invested in the process of helping others recover, improve, and stay healthy. If the idea of being that key part of someone's journey excites you, that's a pretty solid sign you're on the right track.
Also, it’s okay to question. There’s this misconception that once you start a path, you’re locked into it. The reality is, it’s a process, not a destination. You can always reassess along the way. I’d recommend spending time shadowing professionals in the field, doing internships, or even talking to people like you are doing here, who’ve been in the industry for a while. If you love it day-to-day, that’s your answer. If not, it’s okay to pivot. The best way you had know is to shadow so just try to go and see how its done or what they do, it will help you a lot to open and understand it better. Its better to do it than to read it.
As for regrets, here’s the truth man, everyone has them at some point, but the trick is learning from them. One thing I’d suggest... really get a solid understanding of what the career entails. It’s a lot of physical work, long hours, and emotional investment. So, knowing all the highs and lows will help you be more confident in your decision.
No matter what, take your time, try things out, and trust that you’ll figure it out as you go. So basically, I’m not in this field myself, but I did speak to a few pros during my own career crisis, and let me tell you, they dropped some serious knowledge on me. And I know you’re probably curious about a few things no one ever tells you about athletic training
1. You’ll spend a LOT of time educating people. Whether it's athletes or coaches, a huge part of the job is explaining injuries, recovery, and even prevention. You’d think the athletes would already know, but many don’t, so it’s a lot of repetition and breaking down complicated concepts into easy-to-understand steps.
2. You’re on call 24/7. It’s not all glamorous moments on the sidelines. Some of the most hectic times are late nights or weekends when an athlete gets injured unexpectedly. That means being on call, always ready to jump in. It’s the price you pay for being the first line of defense in someone’s physical health.
3. It’s mentally draining. Dealing with the pressure of athletes needing to recover quickly, especially after big injuries, can get to you. You’ll feel the weight of their hopes on your shoulders, and that can be exhausting. It’s not just the physical work but the emotional side that drains you, too. But then again some told me if you are passionate about it and dedicated enjoying what you do then not even this strain can stop you.
Andthe hardest thing I was told is that, The recovery process will sometimes feel slow, and that can test your patience. No matter how much you push someone, injuries don’t always heal fast, and the progress can feel like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. You’ll need to stay patient, both with your athletes and with yourself.
Hope that helps, and I’m sure you’ll figure it out Jason, tho feel free to reach out If you need anything at all. All the best bud.