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At Fullerton College, Athletic Trainer Lorena Tarnay plays a vital role in supporting 21 sports programs. And she describes her work in a recent YouTube video!
Alongside two colleagues, Tarnay provides comprehensive care for student-athletes, including injury prevention, evaluation, rehabilitation, and emergency response.
“The simplest way I describe it,” she said, “is when you’re watching a game and someone gets hurt—who runs out there? That’s the Athletic Trainer.”
Each day is unpredictable. Tarnay might be handling administrative tasks, taping ankles before practice, or sprinting onto a field to assist an injured athlete.
“At any point, I could be sitting at my computer and someone walks in with a bloody mouth or a limp—or we get called to the field for a collapse,” she explained.
After more than 20 years in the profession, Tarnay is still driven by her passion.
“I think most Athletic Trainers get into it because they love it. And when you love it, you tend to give your all,” she said. But the profession can be demanding. “It’s taken me over a decade to figure out how to balance work and life.”
Tarnay takes a holistic approach, combining her Athletic Training background with a master’s degree in sports psychology.
“I give a lot to make sure student-athletes are good, not only physically, but mentally too. Asking, ‘Hey, how are you feeling today?’ goes a long way.”
She also highlights the power of teamwork.
“I work every day with two really intelligent people who make it feel like recess. We rely on each other’s strengths to make the whole team stronger.”
Her advice to aspiring Athletic Trainers?
“Understand the job before you start. Shadow someone, observe. You need to know what you’re getting into—but if it fits, it’s a pretty great profession.”
Watch the video!
