亚洲AV

He wrapped up his master鈥檚 degree like a pro

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man in suit outside
Malik McCoy was just beginning his graduate studies in athletic training in 2020. With all courses online, he had to learn taping and wrapping techniques in a virtual class. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

For students whose coursework required hands-on experience, the COVID-19 pandemic created challenging and, in some cases, unique hurdles.

Consider Malik McCoy, who during the fall 2020 semester was just beginning his master鈥檚 studies in at 亚洲AV. With all courses online, he had to learn taping and wrapping techniques in a virtual class.

鈥淏ut we made it work,鈥 McCoy said. 鈥淭he staff did a good job to make things work out.鈥

McCoy can laugh about it now as he prepares to graduate with the admiration of the coaches and athletes with whom he worked and the Mason faculty members with whom he interacted.

鈥淚 did have a great experience,鈥 McCoy said. 鈥淭he connections I made during my time here, and going to different schools and meeting new people, was great.鈥

McCoy, who is from Portsmouth, Virginia, came to Mason from Norfolk State University, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science with a concentration in kinesiotherapy.

But conversations with his Norfolk State advisor, herself a former athletic trainer, gave McCoy the bug.

As a sophomore he introduced himself to the athletic training staff, which allowed him to help out as a student aide. By his senior year, he was traveling with the football team. He chose Mason to pursue his master鈥檚 after attending an orientation.

鈥淚 fell in love with the staff and faculty,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t just felt like my new home.鈥

At Mason, McCoy has done clinical training at one college and two high schools, helping his preceptors deal with ankle sprains, dislocations and even a spinal cord injury.

鈥淗is professionalism was top notch,鈥 said Brandon Holland, a certified athletic trainer for Prince William County Schools and McCoy鈥檚 preceptor at C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia. 鈥淗e built a great rapport with the student-athletes. He built a great rapport with the coaches to the point they were sad to see him go.鈥

In addition, Holland said, 鈥淗e asked a lot of questions, which is great. A lot of young people are afraid to ask questions. What he didn鈥檛 know he actively pursued knowledge on, and if there was something he needed to make an adjustment with, he would rehearse it until it became second nature.鈥

Still, it hasn鈥檛 been easy for McCoy, who is working several jobs to get through college: part time as a customer service representative at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Virginia, and full time as a driver rehabilitation specialist, training those with autism how to safely operate a motor vehicle. He also trains those who require adaptive equipment to operate a motor vehicle because of a physical disability.

McCoy agreed that balancing his workload with his coursework while maintaining a healthy lifestyle has been challenging, but worth it.

鈥淚 love helping others and giving back, especially when an athlete is injured,鈥 he said. 鈥淢aking that one-on-one connection with them, and making them feel better. Just seeing the smiles on their faces when they鈥檙e out there playing is so rewarding.鈥

McCoy said he鈥檇 ultimately like to work for a professional sports team or as an athletic trainer at NASA鈥檚 Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation Group.

For now, though, 鈥淚鈥檓 just looking forward to the day,鈥 he said of graduation. 鈥淚 can make my mother, my family, and friends proud. I just want to see their smiling faces as I walk across the stage.鈥