Emily Brode ’18 chose ĻӰ for its location, but since she received her undergraduate degree from a larger state institution, she also liked that it was a small school. “The faculty & staff are amazing,” said Brode. “In undergrad, I didn’t form any relationships with professors and staff because I was just another student, but at SU, they cared so much to know each and every one of us and were amazing support, and still are.”
Brode’s fondest memories of Shenandoah are the friendships she made with her classmates. They spent many nights studying in the Health & Life Sciences Building together during their time at the university, which bonded them like family. “Every night a new memory was made,” said Brode.
Brode is an assistant athletic trainer at the in Richmond, Virginia. In her position, she is responsible for providing medical services to the student athletes of the football team and the women’s swimming and diving teams.
The most rewarding part of Brode’s career is the opportunity to work at a Division I university so early in her career. “This is where I had always envisioned myself when I was in school,” said Brode. “It is very rewarding to know that I have already achieved something on my career bucket list.”
Since Shenandoah’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program is well-known and well-renowned in the athletic training community, Brode believes the university definitely prepared her for her career, and she says she owes her success to Shenandoah. She feels the faculty were great support during her time on campus and still are after graduation. Brode recently caught up with her professors on a Zoom call, saying “you could see how much they still care about each of us, no matter how long ago we may have graduated.”
Brode’s advice to students is: “That everything will be worth it in the end. Every long, long night studying, every tear and every single stressful exam or practical. Once you get into the profession, you are reminded every single day why you put yourself through a difficult time getting your education, to be in this profession.”