Graduate Profile: Ke'La Porter
Ke鈥橪a Porter is graduating from WCU鈥檚 College of Health and Human Sciences with a degree in athletic training. As a high school student in Clayton, N.C., Ke鈥橪a played basketball and ran track, until suffering an injury during a basketball game. While undergoing physical therapy to treat her injury, Ke鈥橪a decided she鈥檇 like to become a physical therapist. However, when the high school brought an athletic trainer on board to work with her, Ke鈥橪a was introduced to sports medicine and realized she鈥檇 found her calling.
鈥淜e鈥橪a remembers, 鈥淪chool always came easy to me, so, even though my parents never went to college, in my head I always knew I would go," Ke'La says. "It was never even a question. But then came the issue of finances. I didn鈥檛 really have the money for college.鈥� That, however, was not stopping her. She didn鈥檛 attend school for a full semester after high school, but instead, spent her time searching for resources and applying for scholarships. When it seemed like nothing was working and that her plan for college might have to be rethought, her step-mother stepped in.
鈥淚 remember it like it was yesterday,鈥� Ke鈥橪a said. 鈥淢y step-mom came into my room and said I鈥檓 going to do it for you.鈥� Ke鈥橪a鈥檚 jaw dropped. 鈥淪he said, 鈥業 believe in you and I believe in what you鈥檙e going for,鈥� so she signed on the dotted line, co-signed my loan, and I came to Western.鈥�
In April, Ke鈥橪a aced the National Athletic Trainers鈥� Association鈥檚 Board of Certification Exam, crediting her clinical experiences at various venues, including two high schools and three universities, with her ability to do so. One of those internships was at NC State University where she worked from 4am until 2pm before heading out to her part-time job.
鈥淭he first football game at NC State, I had to spine board someone. I was out on the field with no time to think, just react. We鈥檇 done it so much in practice it was instinct, so I wasn鈥檛 even nervous. I knew exactly what to do. This was exactly what I鈥檇 been practicing for-- we spent a month doing this in class. The game was on TV, so I was able to go back and watch it and I realized that it all gone super smoothly, but that was the first time I recognized that thousands of people had been watching me. It was crazy.鈥�
During her time at WCU, Ke鈥橪a has volunteered for many events related to athletic training, including fitness assessments and local sporting events. She also plays a vital role in the peer tutoring program; students and the tutoring director rave about her ability to teach the material. But her favorite of all her volunteer work is the Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon.
鈥淔or one of my rotations, I was at a PT clinic and some of the patients I worked with were running, so it was so cool to see them actually able to run in the race. They would see me there and come up to say thank you. And then Valley of the Lilies supports our program as well 鈥揑鈥檓 presenting at a conference in Las Vegas and they鈥檙e paying for our hotels, so it鈥檚 just a really cool experience for those of us who volunteer.鈥�
That presentation in Las Vegas isn鈥檛 just any presentation but the culmination of her exemplary research. Ke鈥橪a conducted a research study on ultrasound heating temperatures, and has already presented at the North Carolina Athletic Trainers鈥� Association. She鈥檒l also be presenting at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers鈥� Association Annual Meeting.
鈥淩esearch is kind of the basis for athletic training and I knew it was a big deal. Before I started researching I thought to myself, I might hate it, might love it so let鈥檚 find out. But it鈥檚 been so rewarding. The work I鈥檝e done makes me appreciate others鈥� research. And now I鈥檓 going to grad school for a research-based program in Kentucky,鈥� she says.
Next fall, Ke鈥橪a will head to the University of Kentucky to pursue a graduate education in athletic training. And when asked what she鈥檇 be thinking as she walks across the stage at commencement, she replied simply, 鈥淚 did it.鈥�
