For all kids in high school, secondary goals are something that is often considered all the time. A few kids from Newton High School have goals of someday pursuing a career in the medical field and are starting on those goals as early as high school.
Freshman Leah Weldon has taken on a huge role in the athletic training program at Newton High School. This school year she decided to start assisting the head athletic trainer, Katrina Steiner with multiple different tasks. Weldon says that the most important thing that Steiner has taught her is how to tape an ankle and multiple other life lessons.
“She’s definitely teaching me not to care about what anybody says and that there are still good people in this world,” Weldon said.
Having someone as a mentor is a very important aspect of a young student’s life. Great mentors are always there to listen and support their students along the way. Steiner is filling that role with a few kids here at Newton High School. The impact she has made on some of these kids is incredible. Senior Evelyn Gaertner shares with us how much Steiner has inspired her to be the best version of herself.
“She is understanding but at the same time she also gives good advice and she pushes you to do things that sometimes you are uncomfortable to do,” Gaertner said.
With 22 years of experience in athletic training, Steiner says that she enjoys watching kids evolve throughout high school while they learn new things along the way. She gets excited when students become seniors and they are ready to get a job in the medical field or even become an athletic trainer.
“When I see them learning they get excited and so it makes me happy knowing that they’re excited about learning about sports medicine,” Steiner said. “I’ve had kids you know in middle school come up to me and want to job shadow. That excites me because that means they’re very interested in athletic training and when they get to the high school they’re able to actually be a student athletic trainer with me.”
Career day at the middle school is where it all began for Weldon. Seeing the opportunity of athletic training come to her school was an eye-opening experience and she instantly knew that’s where she wanted to take her future.
“I want to go to WSU and do athletic training and physical education. She came to my school when I was in eighth grade for our career day and as an athletic trainer showing what you can do and everything,” said Weldon. “I was like wow that seems like a lot of fun and opened a new door for me so I want to go into athletic training.”
Establishing an athletic training program here at Newton High School is something that Steiner is currently working very hard on. This year is currently her fourth year at Newton High School and so far has had multiple students help out along the way. Currently, there are six girls who dedicate a lot of time to helping out the growing process of the athletic training program here at Newton High School.
“I would love to grow it and make it bigger so I can have more kids involved,” said Steiner.