Have you ever watched a football game where a player gets tackled hard and does not get up? Or a basketball game where a player accidentally breaks his leg when he lands a jump? The people who run onto the court or field and provide immediate emergency care for the injured athlete are called Athletic Trainers. They are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries related to physical activity. That is the profession I am preparing to enter. I chose to pursue a career in athletic training because of an injury I sustained when I was 13 years old. It was a typical summer day at an AAU track meet, and I was anticipating my turn to sprint the 100-meter dash. When the starting gun went off, I pushed myself forward as normal, and I was immediately met with excruciating pain around my pelvis. This resulted in a visit to an orthopedic physician's office which turned out to be the exact starting point of my interest in sports medicine. Subsequently, I enrolled at a magnet high school with a selective sports medicine program. I was one of three black students admitted. Although sometimes feeling out of place, I graduated as the salutatorian of my class with aspirations of becoming an orthopedic physician. In search of a more inviting environment, I embarked on my academic journey at Howard University, and I declared a major in Human Performance with a concentration in sports medicine. I later declared a minor in chemistry to ensure that I met all prerequisites for medical school. However, alongside my academic pursuits, I became involved as a student-aide athletic trainer for the Howard University Department of Sports Medicine. In this role, I discovered an undeniable passion for the field of athletic training. The fast-paced nature, the opportunity to travel and work with diverse athletes, the firsthand experience of different sports injuries, and all while still working under the sports medicine umbrella resonated deeply with me. The environment at Howard University allowed me to flourish and enjoy learning every day. Ultimately, my interest in orthopedics medicine shifted to a career in athletic training. My experiences with the athletic trainers at Howard University were inspirational, and they solidified my passion for athletic training. The way Howard’s athletic trainers inspired me is the same way I want to inspire my future athletes when they need it most.

My fascination with sports medicine began at the age of thirteen. It was a typical summer day at an AAU track meet, and I was eagerly anticipating my turn to sprint the 100-meter dash. When the starting gun went off, I pushed off the blocks as normal and was met with excruciating pelvic pain after finishing the race. The following week, my father made me an appointment with an orthopedic physician, and it turned out to be the exact starting point of my interest in the field of sports medicine. At this doctor's appointment I was captivated by the hospital environment, the medical terminology, the cool equipment, and the way the doctor could recall information so effortlessly. From that point forward I knew I wanted to be just like that orthopedic physician. Subsequently, I enrolled in a technical high school where I was one of sixteen students accepted into the selective sports medicine program. This program included courses about anatomy and physiology, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal conditions. Although COVID limited our hands-on learning, I graduated as the salutatorian of my class with the same plan of becoming an orthopedic physician. I then began my undergraduate studies at Howard University, majoring in Human Performance with a concentration in sports medicine and minoring in chemistry to ensure I met all pre-med requirements. However, my path shifted when I joined the Howard University Sports Medicine Staff as a student-aide athletic trainer. In this role, I worked with certified athletic trainers and physical therapists to assist with daily rehabilitation, treatment, and first-aid of football athletes. Over time, I discovered an undeniable passion for the field of athletic training. The fast-paced nature, the opportunity to travel and work with diverse athletes, the firsthand experience of different sports injuries, and all while still working under the sports medicine umbrella resonated deeply with me. My interest in pursuing orthopedic practice and medical school shifted to athletic training and physical therapy. Regardless of specialty, to be a great healthcare worker you must genuinely want to help people. Outside of my fascination for “cool injuries,” I have always been deeply committed to service and leadership. At Howard university, I also tutored elementary students at a local D.C. community center, I mentored freshmen girls in their transition to college life and womanhood, and I served at the Community Service Chair for Revolt, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community, educating youth, and empowering women. As Community Service Chair I hosted several events under these initiatives including feminine product drives and meal distributions to unhoused individuals. My experiences as a leader in my community strengthened my communication skills and made me a more compassionate person. Most importantly though, it strengthened my desire to help people, which is an imperative attribute for a future athletic trainer. In 2024, I completed an athletic training internship with the University of Alabama’s Women’s Basketball Team. It was my first opportunity to work in an elite collegiate setting, and I gained exposure to unique rehabilitation techniques, brand-new treatment modalities, and the overall atmosphere of a well-funded rehabilitative setting. After one summer in Alabama, I could see myself thriving in a similar setting. These collective experiences led me to where I am now. Today, I am enrolled in the Master of Athletic Training program at The Ohio State University, and I intend to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree afterwards. My overall career goal is to be a dual-degreed athletic trainer and physical therapist for professional or elite collegiate athletes. This career path combines my passion for orthopedics and my genuine desire to help people.

There is something powerful about helping someone get back on their feet. As an aspiring athletic trainer, I have seen athletes at their lowest. Injured, discouraged, and unsure about their future. But I have also seen what happens when they return from an injury, and I have had the privilege of being a part of that process. That is what I am passionate about. Helping athletes get back on their feet; literally and mentally. My name is Nya Ray, and my journey toward a career in athletic training began during my undergraduate years at Howard University where I had the opportunity to join the sports medicine staff as a student-aide athletic trainer. For context, athletic trainers are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation. In this role, I worked alongside athletic trainers and physical therapists to assist with daily treatment and rehabilitation of football athletes. By doing this, I realized I loved more than just the science behind orthopedic injury recovery, but also the close relationships I built with athletes who relied on me for support. At first, I was only drawn to the “cool injuries”, but I came to understand that these “cool injuries” belonged to real people with real emotions. This role also helped me realize that there is a toxic culture in sports that prioritizes toughness over everything else. This "tough" perspective often overlooks the mental health of athletes and places them in a position where they unintentionally neglect their emotional wellness. After witnessing this occur, I knew that when it was my turn to be a professional, my goal would be to bring balance to that environment by creating a space where athletes feel safe expressing their mental and emotional struggles without fear of judgment. As someone who has been personally impacted by poor mental health, I want to be the person my athletes can turn to when they need support. After graduating from Howard, I recently began the Master of Athletic Training Program at Ohio State University. This program gives me a unique opportunity to work with some of the best collegiate athletes in the country. The elite status of these athletes comes with intense pressure from media, fans, family, coaches, and even themselves. This environment filled with the pressure to be great allows me to practice kindness and promote mental health awareness every day. I believe mental rehabilitation is just as important as physical rehabilitation and deserves more attention in sports. My dream career is to become a dual-degreed athletic trainer and physical therapist for a professional team or top collegiate program, where I can support athletes physically and mentally at the highest levels of competition. In addition to promoting mental health, I also want to make it easier for future students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to obtain a career in athletic training. During undergrad, I interned at the University of Alabama and was fortunate to be mentored by a Black woman who was the head athletic trainer for the women’s basketball team. She inspired me and solidified my passion for athletic training. One day, I plan to establish my own internship program to offer hands-on learning and mentorship to students who are struggling to find opportunities like I once was. Athletic training may be a small field, but I am committed to making a meaningful impact through it. Whether I am helping an athlete seek help or inspiring a student to take the first step toward their career, I know I am doing my part to make the world a better place.