Emily Magnone
Name: Emily Magnone
Program: Athletic Training
Level or Degree: Junior
What are you involved in on campus?
I’m a Kinesiology student ambassador, a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa (PEK), the professional Kinesiology fraternity on campus, and I’m in the Organization of Athletic Training Students (OATS), the club for AT students on campus. I’m very involved with New Life Church, helping lead student Bible study groups, and an avid intramural sports participant!
What has being a Kinesiology student ambassador meant to you?
I felt the Kinesiology student ambassadors' impact through the various events I attended, and I realized I wanted to share my experiences with others. It’s important to show how much Kinesiology means to me and how proud I am to be associated with it.
How has the School of Kinesiology prepared you for your post-graduation goals?
I went into Kinesiology because of my love for sports. Athletic Training helped me gain academic and professional field experience I wouldn’t have received elsewhere, while PEK and OATS developed my understanding of Kinesiology beyond its academics. I developed social and professional connections and skills that I will use throughout my career. I want to have a career in athletic health and safety, and I know I will incorporate the knowledge and skills I’ve learned into my post-graduation plans.
What makes the School of Kinesiology unique?
I love the School of Kinesiology because students can choose from a variety of undergraduate degrees including Movement Science, Sport Management, and Applied Exercise Science. I was lucky to be admitted during one of the last years Athletic Training was offered at the undergraduate level as it was switched to a graduate degree. My research found that Athletic Training was not offered as an undergraduate degree at many schools.
Students can also develop close relationships with other students, staff, and faculty. Kinesiology has less than 1000 students, so there are opportunities to get to know each other and form professional relationships with professors and counselors that we can develop over the years. Students have a more personalized education and experience with these opportunities.
What is your most memorable moment within the school?
My most memorable moments are working with the varsity teams. I worked with the wrestling team during the first semester of my sophomore year, and then I worked with the women’s lacrosse team before COVID-19 canceled the sports seasons. Those are memorable and unique experiences for me because not many college students get the opportunity to work with varsity athletes. It’s cool seeing the other side of athletics, not just the “celebrity” perspective. It was amazing getting to know the athletes and helping them be the best they could be.
I decided on Athletic Training because the description sounded the closest to what I was interested in. I certainly didn’t realize how much I would grow to love it and how much I would learn. Couple that with my clinical rotation experiences, and I’ve learned more than I thought I would.
Do you have an “a-ha” moment or a time when your perspective shifted?
I previously looked at collegiate and professional athletes as celebrities who live perfect lives and thought they deserved different treatment than a “normal” person. I realized athletes are just like other people once I started working with them during my first semester. It also just so happens that they’re a talented athlete!
Tell us about your favorite experience in your program.
I’ve loved all of it, but my favorite is being in OATS. We’ve had so many fun student-faculty events, which a lot of programs don’t get to do. One of my favorites was the Friendsgiving dinner we had with our clinical preceptors. We all brought food, had a big dinner together, and got to know each other outside of the clinical setting. That was fun for me.
How have you changed academically, socially, or professionally since your first year?
I decided on Athletic Training because the description sounded the closest to what I was interested in. I certainly didn’t realize how much I would grow to love it and how much I would learn. Couple that with my clinical rotation experiences, and I’ve learned more than I thought I would. It’s been amazing getting to know people I’m working with on a personal and professional level. The School of Kinesiology has given me the opportunities, experiences, and relationships that I will carry throughout my life.
What is your favorite thing to do in Ann Arbor?
I’ve only been in Ann Arbor during the two years I’ve been on campus, since I live out-of-state. I haven’t spent much time in Ann Arbor besides going out to eat, but walking through Ann Arbor on game days to the Big House and seeing so many people showing their Michigan pride is one of my favorite things! The game-day atmosphere is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before!