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Where it all Started Part One

Now that everyone has an idea of where I am now and who I work for, I’d like to share how I got to where I am now.  If you ask me where I’m from, without thinking I hold up my right hand and using my left hand, point with a finger of where Farmington Hills would be as if my hand was a map.  Born and raised in Michigan, it is normal for me to use my hand as a map (it wasn’t until later when I had to incorporate the Upper Peninsula to my hand map, but more on that later). 

I was raised between two brothers by two (die heart) Detroit fans: Lions, Tigers, Wings, and Pistons…oh my!  I remember watching the Detroit Tigers and debating with my parents after which inning I would have to go to bed.  Of all the Detroit sports, hockey captured my heart the most.  My father has captured me on home video singing what I called the “Red Wing Song” into the channel changer as a microphone on more than one occasion.  It wasn’t until elementary school when I realized the Red Wing Song was actually the National Anthem!  Some families would tape TV shows or series when out of town or out of the house for the day, we taped the Lions game.  This meant on the drive home, the radio had to stay off (for fear of hearing the final score).  When I wasn’t watching or singing along with the Detroit sports, I was participating.

Ballet and Gymnastics weren’t my cup of tea, and then I found soccer!  I grew up playing travel soccer, and tennis in the summer.   Once I in high school, I played four years varsity soccer and tennis, captaining both teams my senior year, and volleyball.  It was during my sophomore year while getting ready for volleyball practice when our school ATC was running late due to a snowstorm that I first found my nitch for athletic training.  My best friend and I both had weak ankles and got taped before every practice.  Not wanting to be late for practice, I picked up a roll of tape and started to tape her ankle.  Seeing how we both have been having it done countless times before and me being a visual learner, I was confident I could get it done.  Our ATC walked in while I was mid-tape job and I tried to hand over the roll of tape.  Instead, she looked at what I had done thus far and encouraged me to continue.  She then taped me up and we scurried off to practice.  The next day she approached me and asked if I had ever thought of going into athletic training as a career.  Being a sophomore in high school, I had not thought about my career choice yet!

Throughout the rest of my sophomore year, when I wasn’t participating in a sport myself, I was hanging out in the athletic training room learning by watching and helping.  She encouraged me to attend a Student Athletic Trainer Workshop at Michigan State University that summer.  I took the information home to my parents who agreed and let me attend this 4 day camp.  Over my last 2 years of high school, if I wasn’t on the soccer field, tennis or volleyball court, I was on the sideline of football games helping to cover bloody knees.  In the summers, I worked as a Lifeguard at Orchard Lake Country Club  In 2002, I graduated with 10 varsity letters and moved to East Lansing, Michigan to attend Michigan State University!

Remember, you have to play TheField to win!

Jenna


Posted: May 1, 2009