One blink of the eye and you are graduating. You’re gone. Your time is up. That is the harsh but beautiful reality that is college. What matters is what you do with those four years and what you experience that will shape the rest of your life for better or worse. You come to college for knowledge and leave with memories and wisdom.

I came to fall open house during my senior year at North Moore High School in fall 2011, toured the campus and went to my first App State football game where the Mountaineers whooped up on Savannah State. That tour was love at first site for me and sealed the deal as to where Bryant Andrew Barbery was going to spend his next four years.

Those four years have come and gone, and I have realized that I truly made one of the best decisions of my life when I decided to attend App State. I am graduating with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training out of the best program in the state and was blessed to be under the program director Jamie Moul. Through the athletic training program I have met lifelong friends that I call family and have been instructed by extraordinary and caring professors.

Life as a student athletic trainer has to be one of the toughest and most time consuming majors at App State. The experience in the healthcare of athletes is second to none but it is definitely challenging and a lot of hard work. I have been blessed to meet so many athletes and athletic trainers through this experience. Every semester has brought challenges and awesome experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.

With athletic training I have blessed to have worked with volleyball, baseball, track and field/cross country, field hockey, football and men’s basketball. I worked with the football team last semester that went 11-2 during the season. We went to and won our first bowl game in App State history with a 31-29 thrilling win over Ohio that capped an unforgettable season.

I started writing for The Appalachian during my sophomore year and it has truly been an amazing experience covering sports here at App State. I have been blessed to write stories on amazing athletes and coaches here at App State including coach Jerry Moore, Denzel Dejournette and countless others. I will never forget interviewing legendary coach Moore at Cracker Barrel one snowy day in Boone. It was by far the best interview I have ever had with one of the best and most genuine human beings I have ever met.

God is placed first and foremost in my life since I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior when I was 12 years old, which is the best decision I have or ever will make. God allowed me to be a part of Athletes In Action here at App and help to co-lead a Bible study in the hopes of reaching athletes here on campus. I have seen God work in my life through my involvement in AIA.

I came to App along with one of my best friends in high school, Justin Marley. People in high school said that friends that room together in college will end up hating each other. That is definitely not case with Justin. He and I are both in the athletic training program and are known as the “twins.” We have roomed together each of the four years here in dorms starting with Bowie Hall room 403 while making a short hiatus in Summit during sophomore and junior years and once again returned to the same Bowie room we started in for our senior year together. He has come to be my best friend and don’t know what I have done without his support and friendship during these four years at App. Thanks bud!

I also met the love of my life here at App State during my sophomore year in Lauren Worthington. We have been dating for two and a half years now and these years with her have been the best of my life. She has been there for me and supports me always even when I can be hard to get along with especially since I am a sports fanatic. She is beautiful, kind and just simply amazing. She will make an awesome elementary school teacher one day as she has a heart for kids. I love you, babe! Thank you so much for being there for me and being the best girlfriend I could ever dream of having. I am one blessed guy.

My four years at App State have been extraordinary. There have been many ups and downs with there being way more ups than downs during my four years. I would like to thank my father (Terry Barbery), mother (Sherry Barbery), sister (Torry Barbery) and my grandparents for loving me and supporting me while I was away from them. My grandma Betty Brown’s many banana puddings that she made me and sent to me were very appreciated as well. I would like to thank God for his many blessings he has given to me including all of the memories and experiences he has given me while during my time at App State. God is my rock and my salvation and I love him and trust him with whatever my future holds. My favorite Bible verse I have held onto while at App State is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” I can truly say after four years I have given my all for Appalachian State.