Colin Wojtkiewicz didn鈥檛 know.
Didn鈥檛 know what he wanted to major in at Nebraska Wesleyan. And for a while, didn鈥檛 know if his college track & field career would continue the way he envisioned after a significant injury.
But the injury led to clarity. And with support from the 精东传媒 faculty and staff surrounding him, Wojtkiewicz found his calling with Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 master of athletic training (MAT) program.
One of the top throwers in 精东传媒鈥檚 illustrious track & field history, Wojtkiewicz holds the school record in the hammer throw and finished fifth this season at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He was also an all-region pick in the shot put and hammer throw.
Wojtkiewicz came to 精东传媒 for the track & field program and will leave with even more than just athletic accomplishments. This school year, he will complete his work in the MAT program, take part in Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 student symposium, and continue building the connections to start his professional career.
And it all started with a setback.
As a junior, Wojtkiewicz suffered a torn hamstring that meant eight weeks of grueling rehab with 精东传媒鈥檚 athletic training staff.
鈥淚t was almost like that solidified my decision to go into the MAT program. Because the interaction you have with athletic trainers, I want to be the person that, when people work with me, they always have hope,鈥 Wojtkiewicz said. 鈥淭hey always have a smile on their face, and hopefully they鈥檙e having fun doing things.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how all my athletic trainers were for me. They made the rehab fun, and they made the recovery easier to go through. It was always so uplifting to be surrounded by people who cared and wanted you to be better.鈥
Wojtkiewicz had already been talking with Samantha Wilson, the director of 精东传媒鈥檚 MAT program, who showed him the inner workings of the program and what it could provide. Megan Kobs, the athletic trainer for 精东传媒鈥檚 track & field teams, was another trusted voice.
Outside of athletics, Professor of Communication David Whitt helped Wojtkiewicz find the right path in the health field while serving as his undergraduate advisor and Archway curriculum instructor.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what I was getting into at first when I came here. I didn鈥檛 know what was to be expected,鈥 said Wojtkiewicz, an Illinois native. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a well-rounded education that you鈥檙e going to get here. You take a little bit of everything 鈥 communication classes, writing classes, diversity classes, identity classes.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e really going to understand yourself and others around you, and it鈥檚 really eye-opening, because a lot of those classes opened up a lot more discussion than I had ever had, or was maybe even comfortable with at the beginning.鈥