About Me.
I am Abigail Wortman, and I am from the small town of Teutopolis, Illinois. I have two older siblings, a brother and a sister, two very loving parents, and two dogs. In high school, I was involved in numerous activities, including Cheer, Golf, Student Council, Science Club, National Honors Society, and Band. All of my experiences and the people in my life have shaped me into who I am today, including what I enjoy, why I chose athletic training, and why I am here at IU Indianapolis today. Since starting college, I have also become a Bepko mentor for Structural Kinesiology, joined the cheer team, been involved in the Catholic Student Organization, and participated in undergraduate research.
01
What do I Enjoy?
Although school stresses me out, it has always been something I enjoy. I enjoy being able to push myself and strive to achieve the goals I set for myself. One goal I set for myself in high school was to earn all A's. I pushed myself in every class and tried my hardest, and in the end, I was able to earn the title of Valedictorian of my class. Becoming Valedictorian has allowed me to realize that hard work and dedication do pay off, but also that I will fail sometimes. Although I will fail, I have to look at my big goal and continue to push myself to not give up. Some other things I enjoy besides school are playing board games and watching movies with my family and friends. I have a very competitive spirit, but I also just enjoy getting to spend time with those I am close with. Another important factor in my life is my faith. I am a Catholic and have grown to learn and love my faith. I have gone on multiple youth group trips that allowed me to understand my purpose and my faith, and I hope to continue to grow in my faith every day.
02
Why Athletic Training?
I first learned about athletic training during my freshman year of high school, and from the moment I realized what the career entailed, I knew that's what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I have always enjoyed helping people, especially when my grandpa had broken his ankle. I helped him with his physical therapy exercises, and it was something fun that we could do together. I loved the feeling of being able to spend time with my grandpa but also helping him increase his strength at the same time. My senior year, I had the opportunity to shadow my athletic trainer, and it allowed me to know that this was the career I needed to go into. She taught me everything about the career, the good and the bad, and showed me what a day in her life looked like. Ever since I have been able to use the information she taught me and apply it in real-life scenarios and in my classes now. Even though I've had people discourage me from going into this field, I know that it is my passion, and I can't wait until I am able to help athletes and students learn about athletic training like my athletic trainer did for me.
03
Why Am I Here?
When I started looking into colleges, I applied to as many as I could, but IU Indianapolis always stood out to me. It was close to family, and I absolutely fell in love with the campus on my campus visit. When it came time to make the big decision, I was still unsure that it was the place for me, but there was a voice telling me that it was the right place. I knew that I would have oodles of opportunities living in Indianapolis, and the Exercise Science program would set me up for success in my future career. My ultimate goals in college are to make connections and new friendships, learn more about myself, and prepare myself to complete my master's degree in athletic training. After completing my master's degree, I plan to become an athletic trainer for a collegiate team. I know I may have to start somewhere small, like a high school, but with determination and hard work, I will work my way up to the collegiate level. I know that with the support of the staff, my friends, family, and mentors, I will be able to achieve this goal.
