Life Balance As A GA

Good Afternoon America! I hope all is well and the Fall semester has been good to you. Football season is going strong (Go Baylor Bears!) and midterm exams are on the horizon (yikes!). For the majority of young professionals out there, you have some stories of when you were a graduate assistant. I hear from a good number of “seasoned” ATCs about how “back in the day” they covered all types of sporting events AND worked their way through graduate school. For those who were able to navigate the waters of being a GA without any hiccups, I salute you. For the rest of us who had a nice “adjustment period” before they got it perfect, I also salute you. 

Being a GA in the current workforce is tough. Graduate school work is tougher than it ever has been. The profession is in a transition period. Collegiate athletics is a booming business where universities are measured on the success of their athletic programs. It’s bananas.

My path to being a Graduate Assistant at Baylor University began at the University of Texas at Arlington. I was a 400m Hurdler for a year and then began working on my degree as an athletic trainer. I interned my senior year at Southern Methodist University and got motivated to continue my education as a graduate assistant. I ultimately chose Baylor because of the program I was working for (shout out to Baylor Track and Field) and the Christian atmosphere. I have had a blast working as a GA with multiple sports and adding more skills to my skill-set. I also had the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico this summer to work for the United States Virgin Island Basketball Federation for their U17 team. Huge blessing.

So…to the good stuff…during my time as a GA I have found some tricks that have allowed me to balance all of the duties associated with current GA positions. Now…(imagine I’m sounding like Dr. Phil when I say this)…if you follow these 10 steps, I promise you will ease into the real world much more efficiently, have a greater overall experience, and actually ENJOY being a GA (yes…it can happen).

1. Get to know your full time athletic training staff and coaching staff. Actually ask about their careers and what they like to do. These relationships will add the “human touch” to your time at your respectable university.

2.  Get a planner. If you don’t have one yet, go ahead and make the trip to Walmart and get one. It will change your life. Adding all practice times and dates in one place will allow you to not be caught off guard.

3.  At the beginning of each semester, add your syllabi to your planner. REMEMBER: YOU ARE HERE TO GET A DEGREE AAAAAAAAAND WORK A SPORT ASSIGNMENT. Don’t underestimate the time you’ll need to get homework done. Keeping all assignments and exam dates in one place will keep you on track.

4. Take things one day at a time. Don’t get too caught up in everything going on around you. Focus on what you have to do one day at a time. I look at things in weeks. Each Monday, I sit down at an eating establishment of my choice (More times than not it’s fast food. Ballin’ on a budget.), and I see what I have to do that day and what is on the horizon that week.

5. Create your own routine. For instance, Monday and Tuesday are homework nights. Wednesday is “Career Night” where I sit down and work on career building items. I will look up something I want to learn and integrate to my practice or read a book that will motivate me to do more in the workplace. Thursday night is “Hoop Night”. I’m in our gym doing my best Kobe Bryant impression (no Achilles jokes people). Friday night is “Social Night”. No books, no homework, no work. Just hanging out with friends and family. By establishing a consistent routine each week, you give your week balance and feel more at ease with all of the craziness going on.

6. WORK OUT (begins playing LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It”). Don’t forget to take care of your body. The pounds add on as we get more busy in our jobs. Athletic trainers usually eat horribly as well (I’m guilty). Try to get 3 workout sessions in a week. It will make you happier and gives you a stress release.

7.  Reach out to other professionals for guidance. Be sure to tap into those who have done what you are looking to do. This gives you wisdom in how you can navigate your career and GA time.

8.  Jam out! Find some music that can relax you while you’re in the athletic training room. I’m a huge Christian Hip-Hop fan, so I’ve been playing Lecrae and Trip Lee any chance I can. Music helps keep you relaxed and is a nice topic of discussion with your athletes.

9.  Go out to other sporting events. I work track and field/cross country and baseball. Whenever I get the chance, I go out to our volleyball and football games to support my university and have fun with friends (Dressed in normal human clothes. No khakis.).

10.   HAVE FUN!!  This is the beginning of an amazing part of your career. Make the most of it. Be encouraged. Two years passes faster than you think. Enjoy the people, enjoy your teams, enjoy your job and I promise you, it will all pay off. 

-Roger Sancho