Indiana Brown never really thought about a career in sports medicine before last summer. Even now, she admits it’s not what she really wants to do.

In one year, however, the 20-year-old Vicksburg resident has impressed the training staff at Hinds Community College. So much so that they picked her to represent them at the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Football Game tonight in Mobile.

For the first time, junior college trainers will be used for the game. Brown was picked from among the members of Hinds’ staff to participate.

&#8220I never even thought about the all-star game. I never thought any of us had a chance to go,” Brown said. &#8220My first response was, ‘Yes! Sign me up.’”.

Brown comes from an athletic family and, while she never played any sports in high school, has always followed the games. Her cousins, Dmitri Young, Ellis Burks and Roosevelt Brown all played major league baseball. Several other cousins, including Reginald Perkins and Kevin Prentiss, played college football.

When she went to school at Hinds, Indiana Brown started as a nursing major and getting into sports medicine seemed like a good way to combine the two. Before her sophomore year she switched her major to social work but continued on in medicine by joining Hinds’ training staff.

&#8220I caught on really quick,” Brown said. &#8220I’ve learned a lot. Not only in sports medicine, but in other aspects of life. I’ve made a lot of lifelong friends.”

Brown will finish her work at Hinds with the all-star game – she graduated on May 12 – as well as her career in sports medicine for the time being. She plans to do some work with Jackson-based Mississippi Sports Medicine this summer, then enroll at Jackson State in the fall and embark on a career in social work.

&#8220I’ve thought about (sports medicine). But right now I’m really more interested in the social work field,” Brown said.

So she’ll go to Mobile for one last game as a trainer, with fond memories in her mind and a smile on her face.

&#8220I love it. I believe it is an honor. I don’t think it’s work when I do it. It’s fun and something I enjoy doing,” she said, adding that the all-star game will be no different from working at other games. &#8220It’s not pressure. It feels like just another game. My last game at Hinds.”