SLU Pre-professional AT Student Excited to be Back Home at Webster Groves High School

New AT Student Blog Post - Abby Hoffman (SLU MAT Class of 2020)

I am a junior in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program and I am thankful to say I have had the opportunity to observe at a few different places this semester, as well as watch different sports. Coming from St. Louis, I was very excited to go back to my high school, Webster Groves, to observe in the AT room just as I did as a senior. It was different being back as just an observer when I was once an athlete and a student. As I watched athletes get helped, I realized that I had much more knowledge than I did. I felt like I learned a lot by listening to how my preceptors asked questions. I have always found it difficult to ask the right background questions and take history. Observing this was a great way for me to practice taking history in my head. 

In February, I had the opportunity to observe a hockey tournament game between Iowa State and McKendree University. The tournament was held at the Webster Groves rink, which is place I grew up skating at and watching my friends play at in high school. Hockey is a sport that I enjoy watching and would like to work with in the future, so I was very excited for this opportunity. Nothing too crazy happened while I was there, but I did get to see how AT's prepare for the game. I was happy to experience how an athletic trainer's typical day would go at a hockey tournament. Whether that meant standing for hours or being really cold, I was happy nonetheless. 

As I look ahead at the next two years in the AT program, I am excited and ready to start my journey working at a clinical site instead of observing. I feel as though the places I observed have helped me prepare for what it'll be like when I am at my own site. I am excited to use the knowledge I have gained over the past few years and put my skills to practice. Although I am nervous to start the professional phase of the program, I am excited to be that much closer to my goal of becoming an Athletic Trainer. 

This is one of a series of blog posts written by students entering the professional phase of the SLU AT Program as a part of MAT 3000 - AT Student Development II.