March 6, 2024
DAT Life Moment | Americus W.
Before I started at A.T. Still University, my motivation was to complete a Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program because I was finishing up my master's and thought it was best to continue with getting my doctorate for credentialing purposes — not knowing ATSU would shape my life career and life journey in a more purposeful way.
When I started my Applied Research Project (ARP) is when the initial thought occurred to me that I may want to become an educator so I can help young minority, BIPOC individuals become athletic trainers. It was at the Winter Institute where that idea was solidified and cemented within me after discussing it further and being challenged on how I could disrupt the AT profession to make it better. The only way to disrupt a system is to be the change that I want to see. It starts with me!
My goal is to be an educator for some years and eventually try to become a program director at my alma mater, Shaw University, where I started my athletic training journey or any other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Creating and giving opportunities to a diverse population of individuals that want to learn and grow as athletic trainers, but more importantly be the change to help promote diversity for and as ATs in the profession is priceless. ATSU is an institution that I will forever be grateful for having as my alma mater because my instructors there helped me by challenging me in every aspect of my life.