Student professes love for Athletic Training program in national professional journal

"I became interested in athletic training when I took a basic principles of athletic training class," says John Jewell. "My professor's love for athletic training was evident, and her excitement for what she did made me want to see what athletic training was all about."

"Once I started, I couldn't imagine doing any other major," he adds.

Lots of students may say such things about their fields of study once they feel they've found their path. But Jewell, a junior Athletic Training Education major from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, got to profess his affection for his field in a powerful place: NATANews, the journal of the National Athletic Training Association.

"I enjoy the people I get to work with every day, from athletes I see daily to the certified athletic trainer and my peers and in the program," Jewell explains in his profile in the December issue of NATANews. "My peers have quickly become some of my closest friends. I love seeing the athletes I work with improve from day to day, and our ATs are always around when I have questions, pushing me beyond my normal thinking and helping me learn as much as possible."

Each month, NATA puts out a call for nominations from NATA members for students to be profiled in the "Student Spotlight" in the newsletter's "The Future" section. The editorial staff of NATANews then selects a qualified student.

"I nominated Mr. Jewell because he is a high achieving student who is clearly dedicated to both his academic and clinical pursuits," says Jeb Davis, a certified Athletic Trainer and the Clinical Coordinator for Athletic Training Education. "He is really the archetype of the kind of student that is successful in our field."

That national recognition will be a help to Jewell, given his high ambitions for a career as an athletic trainer.

"I want to see the athletes return to their sport without a single lingering thought or worry about their injury. I want them to be able to run, cut, and jump as if they were never injured," he told NATANews. "My dream athletic training job would be to work with a men's Olympic volleyball team. You have to love athletic training a lot to devote that much time. The good thing is, I love it. A lot."

Learn more about the Athletic Training Education Program.