Month of Thanks Day 10

Day 10: College Experience & Education (Undergrad)

I am thankful for not only the education I received during my undergrad days at the University of Florida, but also the life experiences and life-long lessons I learned during my time there. Gainesville and the University of Florida will always hold a special place in my heart because not only did I meet my husband and best friend there, but I feel I truly learned who I was as a person, grew into the woman I am, and truly found myself. When I left Gainesville, I was not the same person as when I walked on campus in 2001 and am so thankful for the experiences I had there. 

Not only did I learn about myself during my time at UF, but it also was the educational foundation for my career in Exercise and Sport Sciences. If it was not for my education, I never would have sat for the NASM-Certified Personal Trainer certification or the NSCA – Strength & Conditioning Specialist certification. Without those achievements, I never would have been able to serve as a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs or an AssistantTrack & Field Coach at Northwestern State University.  I also never would have had the experience of coaching an amazing group of high school Cross-Country and Track athletes or gained valuable insight during my time volunteering with the Strength & Conditioning Coaches at the Olympic Training Center. And I can also thank the University of Florida for helping me learn to believe in myself and never give up on my goals.