Michelle Menard
Major: Athletic Training, Exercise Science
Hometown: West Palm Beach
Describe your current job role:
Assistant Athletic Trainer at Palm Beach Atlantic University working with Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Baseball
What professional experience(s) did you have prior to your current job role?
Assistant Athletic Trainer Ave Maria University Spring Sports, Injury prevention specialist at Disney, Assistant Athletic Trainer Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Head Athletic Trainer and Medical Science Academy Instructor at West Boca Community High School
What do you know now that you wish you had known about being a working professional?
I wish I knew that having a family while working was not as difficult as people made it seem.
"...learn from every mistake..."
How did PBA prepare you for the world of work?
PBA taught me to get to know someone’s background to understand why they work the way they do.
What advice would you give to current PBA students and/or young alumni who are about to start their first professional full-time job?
My advice would be to learn from every mistake they make because it will happen and they will not always get the positive feedback. I have seen so many people be down on themselves after the first negative comment they receive on the job.
Have you been mentored by anyone in your professional field since entering the workforce? If so, what impact has that had on you?
It wasn’t an official mentorship but Dr. Fox and Tyler Hamilton have always been there to answer any questions I’ve had about different techniques, they have provided me with great resources and overall have helped me become a better clinician and person. Everything I learned from them in class and through conversation after becoming certified has helped me as a teacher and athletic trainer.
Spotlight posted in November 2017. For current updates from Michelle, visit her work related page here.