(Written by Jenica Paulsen, 4th Year Athletic Training Student)
Jillian Burrows is a second-year graduate student in the MSU Master’s in Athletic Training program, and a graduate assistant athletic trainer with Missouri State University’s Swimming and Diving Team. She is a 2012 graduate of the MSU Bachelors in Athletic Training program.
Jenica Paulsen (JP): What has been your favorite part about the graduate program thus far?
Jillian Burrows (JB): I think one of my favorite parts has been the people that I’ve come into contact with. I really like my classmates, and other people that I’ve met. I also have enjoyed the professors that I’ve gotten to interact with that we didn’t get the chance to interact with during my undergraduate time here.
JP: How has it been trying to manage time between your graduate assistantship and classes?
JB: It is a big time commitment, trying to balance your classwork, and a GA position along with the research component. It is not necessarily a bad thing. It has been a challenge. Time management wasn’t necessarily and probably still isn’t a strong suit of mine. Definitely after my first year in the program, as kind of a trial year, it has forced me to become better at that. It has allowed me learn to wisely manage my time between the classes, practices, and the homework portion of the program.
JP: How do you feel coming from MSU’s undergraduate program in Athletic Training has helped you transition into MSU’s graduate program in Athletic Training?
JB: I think although, I don’t necessarily feel I am leaps and bounds above the others by any means. However, there are some people that came into the program with no knowledge of the movement foundation, the functional movement screening (FMS), or the selective functional movement assessment (SFMA). I think the undergraduate program has helped me in that way. It has helped me build a foundation of knowledge on those topics and this graduate program has helped me expand that foundation.
JP: Do you have any advice for students coming into MSU’s graduate program?
JB: Be prepared for a challenge. I feel like a lot of the classes, especially if you’re coming from another prospective, challenge the way that you tend to think. We look at things in different ways in that aspect. So, do be prepared for that and come in with an open mind.
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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.