I vividly remember the day: A cold, rainy day in western Massachusetts. For 4 months my 10th-grade guidance counselor, sweet Miss Garofalo, showed me dozens of fliers on all types of professions and careers. She was secretly hoping to motivate me to go to college. No such luck. None of her topics even remotely excited me….until the day she slid the “Careers in Athletic Training” flier across her desk. “THIS is it!” I screamed and just like that the spark…no, the BONFIRE was lit.
I raced home after football practice to tell my supportive family my big new plan: “I’m going to college to become an athletic trainer in the NFL!” I proudly announced.