SFA Athletic Training

Athletic Training is a profession that requires hard work, dedication, and self-discipline. The rewards are generally in the form of self-satisfaction rather than financial gains or public recognition. You must be willing to sacrifice some of your time, energy, and knowledge in order to be a good athletic trainer. The hours are long and sometimes hectic when you are trying to satisfy the many requests made of you. Your ability to handle UNORDINARY demands and situations with confidence and competency will make you a great athletic trainer.

Athletic Training is not a job. A job is doing the same things every day. The assembly man in Detroit has a job. You have chosen a profession with new challenges every hour of every day. You may be called upon to apply a bandaid one minute and save an athlete's life the next. Your future in Athletic Training is only limited by you. If you learn from those with whom you come in contact, add scientific basis to what you learn, create challenges and greater goals, and are willing to accept changes when they are needed, you become a great athletic trainer. Your future in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine is not predetermined as it is in so many other professions. There are challenges at all levels of competition from junior high to professional athletics.

During the next few years you may have the opportunity to become the best at your profession. If Athletic Training is chosen, your challenges will be great and your responsibilities will be governed by how well you accept them. Stephen F. Austin State University has dedicated itself to excellence in academics and athletics. You can be a part of that tradition. You will be expected to take something away from SFA and likewise you are expected to leave something behind for those who follow. The SFA Athletic Training Program is always growing and striving for perfection. Those who take part in the total program will develop a great amount of pride in the program as well as pride in their colleagues. You should strive to make the SFA Athletic Training Porgram a model program from which you will develop your own program when you graduate.