(Written by 4th Year AT Program Student, Jenica Paulsen)
SMAT Spotlight: AT Program first-year student, Kelsi Poe
Jenica Paulsen (JP): Kelsi, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Kelsi Poe (KP): My name is Kelsi Poe, I am from Jefferson City, Missouri. I am 22, almost 23 years old. I went to high school at Helias Catholic High School and graduated in 2009. I have been to three colleges. I went to Lincoln University in Jefferson City for Nursing and played softball. I then transferred to Columbia College and played softball there. I was mainly there for the sport. I had a big accident. After that, I went back to CC and that is when I got into Athletic Training. I was taking a class called basic prevention and sports injuries. It was really fun and I liked it. I thought it was awesome. I learned how to tape ankles there, and do all the basic stuff. I thought it was really fun, I loved it. I thought to myself, well this is what I’m going to do. My fiancé got a call, and got a job offer in Springfield, MO. So, I looked at college and found Missouri State, and the Athletic Training Program. It was good, because I needed a new start. I wanted to get out, and start over. I wanted to go to a place where I didn’t know many people. This is the only school that I really applied to. I looked around a little, I mean I looked in St. Louis. However, I am a Chicago Cubs fan. So, I don’t know that that would have worked out. I am glad that it all worked out, because I didn’t even know. Missouri State is one of the top schools in the state for Athletic Training.
JP: Have you always been interested in athletic training? Or was there something that sparked your interest?
KP: Well, I have always been interested in the healthcare industry. My mom has been a nurse for forty-something years. When I was in the hospital, she stayed with me every night for 89 days. I always wanted to be a nurse after her. After this whole thing, I knew that I wanted to stay in the healthcare industry. Athletic training is really the base of healthcare. It is what I want to do, and it is what I am going to do.
JP: Do you have any past experiences with athletic trainers due to the fact you played softball and two colleges?
KP: I knew about the profession starting in high school. The man that is the teacher there, he was also the athletic trainer. He kind of promoted athletic training at the high school. I played softball there, and I would go see him for things. That’s how I knew about it. My goal was to go into nursing and then I found this. I have been in school for a while now. You know? I don’t care. I like school. Most people do not, but I do. I am going to stay in it.
JP: Is there a clinical site you are looking forward to the most? Or do you know where you want to go with your career when you graduate in four years?
KP: So far, I have been to the college. I have been to the high school. I haven’t been to the clinics yet. I have no certain place I want to be. I like them all. There is nothing I don’t like about it, yet. There is nothing that has told me that I don’t want to work in a particular place. Nothing has pushed me away. I am interested in anything I am offered.
JP: What has been your favorite part of ATC 220 so far?
KP: Well, I know what will be my favorite part. I love taping. I think that will be my favorite part. I have tape everywhere, all around my house. I have so much. My fiancé is in the army. So, I practice on him a lot. I am excited to learn new tape jobs. I love Dr. Hetzler, and Kristin. They’re funny. They are good people, and very easy to talk to. I don’t feel uncomfortable ever. I can just walk into their office if I need to. Really my favorite part would be, my comfort around my professor. I don’t feel shy to ask questions. I ask a lot of questions. They don’t make you feel silly for asking questions. I enjoyed our glove removal lab with the ketchup. I thought that was funny.
JP: You say your fiancé is in the army, have you may be thought of that as a career? Maybe practicing as a non-traditional AT.
KP: Before… even when I was in nursing, I wanted to be a military on-base nurse. That requires you to go through the training. So, I could not pass the training because of the injury that I had. There are certain aspects that I would not be able to do. So, that would be the only thing stopping me. I would love to be in the place that is very acute and emergency. I am not afraid of blood. I think that if you are afraid of blood, this profession is going to be really hard. I am not afraid of blood, or bones or anything like that.
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The SMAT Spotlight is a series to highlight individuals, groups, clinical sites, and affiliations involved with the Sports Medicine Athletic Training Department at Missouri State University.