Malena Kammerer
Responsibilities
During my internship, my responsibilities included coaching high school athletes in improving skills such as strength, speed, and movement, as well as creating programs based on data collection. Lots of technology is used in this program that requires activating/changing station setups, ensuring workouts are programmed for the correct day and sport, and viewing an athlete's progress that I have learned to coordinate with. I also ran the social media page by taking photos and fun videos, which the athletes loved.
Accomplishments
My greatest accomplishment during my internship is being at a level where the athletes can come to me if they have an issue whether it involves the sport or their personal lives. This could be an athlete asking me tips on a certain movement, such as lateral jumps, or it could be them telling me about a bad day they had. Knowing they trust me with my knowledge or just being there to listen gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment as a coach.
Learning experience
One of the greatest lessons I learned from this experience is understanding my audience and how to adapt my coaching skills to them. Working with high schoolers has made this internship exciting and fun, but there are some students who don't always have a positive attitude. As a coach to these high schoolers, I try to motivate and encourage them everyday, which leads to one-on-one or group pep talks. This has taught me the importance of leadership and patience, as well as the impact of just a few words of encouragement to motivate the athletes.
What advice would you give?
For future students in my major, my advice would be to explore your options and take time to know what you would like to pursue in. Job shadowing for even a single day at different locations would give you a good sense of whether or not you would enjoy working in that environment. Build experience and confidence by taking advantage of internships, volunteering, and connecting with others to understand your passions and strengths.