Once on campus, Caroline learned that the coaches hold biweekly academic meetings with all their first-year students. These meetings help coaches check in on how students are adjusting to the increased commitment required at the collegiate level. Students can discuss academics, team dynamics, personal concerns, or anything else they need guidance on. This helped Caroline feel that her coaches were deeply invested in her growth, both on and off the field.
Exercise Science students have three concentrations to choose from: Strength and Conditioning, Sport Sciences, and Medical Sciences. Caroline had always loved lifting weights with her team, so she chose Strength and Conditioning. The program has connected her with her community and allowed her to apply her learning in real-life scenarios. Her first opportunity to do this was during her internship.
During winter break of her second year, her program interned at an athletics center that trains athletes from elementary school through the collegiate level. For several weeks, Caroline worked alongside coaches and trainers, observing everything she could and advising young athletes on their form and training. She cites this experience as an incredible opportunity that confirmed her passion for working with young athletes. Her favorite part of strength and conditioning is showing young athletes how they can improve—and seeing the joy that personal growth brings them. The strength and conditioning course she took beforehand helped her understand much of what she saw during her internship, while her internship experience added depth to the Olympic weightlifting course she took afterward.
