Have you ever wondered what other settings you could work in as an Athletic Trainer (AT)? Are you curious about other populations interested in your services or other organizations that could benefit from your value? This past summer AT, Alyssa McCarron, worked with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. She traveled with them from Tempe, Arizona to Atlanta, Georgia and refers to the experience as an “opportunity of a lifetime”. ATs often work in conventional settings such as secondary schools and university athletic departments. However, at ATvantage we pride ourselves on providing unique opportunities that expose ATs to various settings and populations. We hope you enjoy the Q&A blog below that will give you a glimpse into Alyssa’s experience with Pacific Crest!
Q: When ATvantage presented this opportunity what were your initial thoughts and what made you open to the idea of working in a non-traditional setting?
A: “I was extremely excited! I was at my friend’s house and as soon as I got off the phone, I looked at her and said, “I think I’m suppose to be taking summer classes but I’m doing this.” I immediately went to my advisor and figured out my classes so I could have the summer off! In undergrad I worked at Camp Woodward, an extreme sports camp, and my family has always been into musical theatre so I’ve worked in non-traditional settings and felt confident pursuing it. I love to travel and knew this was a unique opportunity so I was really excited to spend my summer with PC.”
Q: Can you share a specific experience or scenario that you don’t imagine encountering in a traditional setting?
A: “Something that stood out was that this population doesn’t identify themselves as athletes. We had to educate them on why rehab exercises would benefit them more than just rest and ice after getting injured. What they do is totally athletic they just don’t view themselves the way we do. They practice for 9 hours a day and then get on a bus to travel which puts a lot of stress on their bodies so educating them on how to take care of their bodies was key.”
Q: How did your schedule change from day to day & depending on where you were?
A: “Each day at PC was a new adventure so there was never a true schedule we stuck to. It was pretty common sense on how to run the breaks to efficiently and effectively perform our tasks. It really depended on who else we had on the medical staff. If I had more nurses or another person for PT, you could break yourself more. One week it was only me and an ATS who is also a nurse, which made for pretty long days!”
Q: What were different things you had to prioritize while working with drum & bugle corps versus your past experiences?
A: “Education on what to do for an injury and how to take care of their bodies played a huge role. When your working out all day and then jumping on a bus to travel all night your body gets fatigued. This was something we had to explain to them as well as simple ideas such as proper hydration.
“Q: How did this experience differ from your previous job experiences as an AT?
A: “I loved this experience. It took some adjustments but it differed in the aspect of appreciation from administration to members. We were given the utmost respect, asked for our opinions, and our recommendations were followed the majority of the time. They looked at having us as a privilege. It was something new to them and they were so thankful. The kids were so interested in what we did and a few even came up to me and asked what I studied in school and how they could become an AT. It was cool because most often tradition athletes look at us as the person who brings them their foam roller where as these kids were so excited and interested in knowing what we did and why!”
Q: What was your favorite city or venue you visited?
A: “I loved San Antonio, Texas! The River walk was beautiful and exploring a totally different city was exciting. I never thought I would have liked Texas so much but now I’m even thinking of moving there.”
Q: What was your favorite and least favorite aspects of working in this setting?
A: My favorite and least favorite are the same. I loved and hated the travel. I loved it because I saw so many new sites and it was fun packing up and going to totally new places with different weather, people, and customs! I hated it because being in a car for so many hours can really fatigue a body.”
Q: How big of a roll does perspective play in your outlook on your experience?
A: “I’ve always been a “do what you can with what you have” type of person so perspective does play an important role. I definitely think I should have done a little more research on what being on tour and traveling everyday is like. After the first 3 days I thought what did I get myself into, but it ended up being the best experience of my summer. Knowing you’re going to have to rough it a little and the ability to persevere in conditions that aren’t ideal is important.
“Q: Would you recommend this opportunity to other ATs and is there anything else you would like to share?
A: “If an AT gets this opportunity, TAKE IT! With the warning of be ready to work hard and long but that it’s all worth it. It’s a unique experience you will have never had before and it will teach you so much about yourself and what you are capable of as an AT. Working with PC was the opportunity of a lifetime and this experience has such a special place in my heart.”
