Today we talk with Cassie Dennis, a senior athletic training major from Edison, Middlesex County, who lives on campus at Whitney Center. Cassie will share her #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how she’s getting the most out of her college experience as a Rowan Prof.
Name: Cassie Dennis
Major(s): Athletic Training in the School of Biomedical Science & Health Professions
Minor or concentration: Biology minor, Honors concentration
Year: 5th Year Senior (Athletic Training is a five year program in which students’ graduate with masters’ degrees)
Hometown and County: Edison, NJ (Middlesex County)
Resident: Yes, Whitney Center
Academic clubs: Mortar Board (Senior Honor Society) – Service Chair; Athletic Training Club- President
Social clubs: Colleges Against Cancer – Entertainment SubCommittee Chair
Do you work on campus: I have a job as an Admissions Ambassador and I also work in the University Advising Center.
Why did you choose your major? I chose my major when I broke my leg back during my sophomore year of high school. I found that this major was the perfect combination of helping people, medicine, and sports which are three things that I love. Once I got into the major I realized how much athletic trainers do and how wide our job requirement is. It’s a great field that is hands on and really enjoyable.
One reason why you chose Rowan? I chose Rowan because it is the best in the state for my major. Rowan has a phenomenal program that incorporates major material as early as the first semester while providing students plenty of hands-on experience and four internships by the time of graduation. Another reason that I chose Rowan was because it felt at home to me the minute I walked onto campus and I felt extremely comfortable with the area, faculty, and students. From the start Rowan provided me with so many opportunities to get involved with a huge variety of things like Colleges Against Cancer, the Honors Concentration, Mentoring Programs, and Honor Societies.
My Typical Day as a Rowan Student
A typical day in the life of me is very busy and extremely long. It starts with a class at 8 a.m. almost every day and then continues until 2 p.m. with other classes. The classes that I take have taken throughout my time at Rowan covered how to evaluate orthopedic injuries, advanced emergency care, therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation exercises, biomechanics of the body, general medical conditions, how to run an athletic training facility, as well as a few biology classes. Since classes run back to back I barely have time to eat so I generally grab a quick sandwich from the food kiosk in James Hall. Following all of my classes I go to my clinical assignment where I take care of the athletes before and after their practices or games in the John Greene Team House. This care includes anything from stretching, injury evaluations, taping and wrapping, wound care, and rehabilitation programs. After about five hours in the facility, I finally get to head home and make myself food.
Two nights during the week I go club meetings for Colleges Against Cancer and a third night during the week I hold club meetings for the Rowan University Athletic Training Club. Working out and running comes last in my day and is left to late nights. I work both in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as an Admissions Ambassador as well as an office assistant in the University Advising Center three to four days a week (somewhere in the middle of my day). I’m always busy fitting in my clubs but I’m thankful for the opportunity!
We are #RowanPROUD and we are Rowan Profs! Not exactly sure what a Prof is? It’s our owl mascot, Whoo RU. Read about him here.
Story organized and photography by: Jen Green