Clayton Washington
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Class of 2021
B.S., Exercise and Sport Science
As a senior in high school, Clayton Washington became enamored with FSU. “While on the wrestling team, my friend and teammate’s brother reached out to me and first told me about FSU. He was in the athletic training program and knew that I really wanted to be an athletic trainer. I can remember him telling me how great the program was and that I would love Frostburg. I was hesitant to be in such a rural area because I thought there wouldn’t be many opportunities for me to work with athletic teams, but boy, was I wrong.”
Like most students, Clayton believes it’s essential to find a school in a town where you can enjoy living. “If you don’t enjoy the town you are going to go to school in, don’t go there, because you may not be successful. I love Frostburg and am happy that I chose to come here. It’s quiet so you can really focus on your studies, the class sizes are small, and the teachers are determined to help you succeed. Plus, you are only two hours from D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, which makes it easy not to feel so isolated.”
As a fourth-year student at FSU, athletic training students work hands-on with athletes and patients. “Even during the pandemic, when athletes weren’t traveling, the Theater department got involved with our department, and we were tested in real-world scenarios. The student I worked with was such a good actor and was crying and everything – I almost forgot it was acting. Even though the faculty wanted us to work with actual patients and athletes, they improvised during the pandemic, so we received that hands-on training that our program is all about. It’s one thing to study about injuries from a book, but it’s completely different in real life when someone is in pain and looking to you for help.”
