The Thing I Hate, or Why My Heart is Still in Athletic Training


My degree is in Athletic Training, or sports medicine. I spent five years studying to be a trainer, and I absolutely loved it. My biggest desire (outside of  being a good person, being available for my family, and living the Gospel) since I graduated from college eighteen years ago has been to return to college and get my master's degree and work as a trainer. It's the one vocation I'm sure I'd love. I get tired of waiting until I can go back to school. I want to be a trainer. I want to evaluate injuries and feel the endpoint when doing an anterior drawer test and know that I can palpate the coracoid process and deltoid tuberosity perfectly and efficiently. I want to use my hands and mind to heal the body and use my heart and soul to connect with people. That's what I want.

And yet, I can't stand seeing kids get injured.

I hate seeing a serious injury occur. I hate watching  grown boys and girls writhe in pain. I hate seeing the crippling dysfunction that results from a true and serious injury. I hate watching well-meaning coaches (mis)handle injured players. I hate everything about the truly serious injuries. But I'd love to be the one to evaluate those injuries and treat those players.  It's watching the pain that I hate.But treating the one in pain?  Helping them recover? That's a privilege. That's service.  And I hope I have the opportunity some day. I'll be a darn good trainer.


The athletic trainers in these photos are of my classmates and teachers (students who were getting their masters degrees when I was getting my bachelors). The first time I realized that all of them are now employed by BYU, I was amazed and motivated and slightly jealous. I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't married Jared, but had gone on a mission, that I'd have then gotten my master's degree, stayed single quite awhile, and joined them.  And I still will. One day.




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Blain Empey

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