Course Reflections
Scroll to read about some of the classes I've completed!
Global Nutrition Virtual Exchange
During this semester, we participated in a "Global Nutrition Virtual Exchange" project. This involved collaborating with a nutrition course from the United Kingdom, where we brainstormed our cultural similarities and differences. The project offered us the chance to learn about both our own culture and theirs through guest speaker presentations and one-on-one group meetings. The purpose of this project was to foster an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences, gain insight into lifestyle behaviors, develop intercultural communication skills, and achieve cultural competence.
Partnering with Newcastle University was incredibly beneficial to this course. It was my first time engaging in a project like this, and I found it to be a great way to stay engaged while building relationships with our assigned group members. Through this project, I learned that there are commonalities such as students across both cultures eating less healthily, the accessibility and affordability of fast food, and the shared importance of coffee.
We also discovered key differences: Costco is considered a very "American" franchise and is not easily accessible in the UK; tea plays a larger role in their daily routine; Starbucks is not their first coffee choice; their version of “MyPlate” recommends five servings of vegetables and fruits per day; food is viewed more as a luxury due to higher costs, limiting students’ access to healthy options on tight budgets; and cinema portions are smaller, though still pricey, compared to the US. This experience helped me develop a deeper appreciation for cultural differences in nutrition and lifestyle.
KINE-P246
Performance and Teaching of Cardiovascular & Resistance Training
Summary of Experiences and Teaching Exercises and Leading Groups:
This semester, I gained experience in cardiovascular fitness and resistance training, which helped me develop a better understanding of muscle anatomy, exercise techniques, and safety. I had the chance to practice leading exercises and designing fitness plans for people of various ages. One key experience was the case study project, where I applied what I learned to create an exercise plan for a "real person". This project boosted my confidence, as it allowed me to practice developing personalized plans and see how fitness principles work in real-life situations. It made me feel more prepared for working with actual clients in the future.
Reflection of My Growth:
A major growth area for me was building confidence when teaching, especially when I had to explain exercises to classmates who were more knowledgeable than me. I realized that teaching others not only helped them understand the exercises but also strengthened my own understanding. Leading and teaching these exercises helped me improve my communication skills, and I now feel more confident when guiding others in their fitness journey.
"The only bad workout is the one that didn't happen"
KINE-P403
Learning Experience
One of the most meaningful learning experiences from P403 was understanding how to effectively design and progress individualized training programs based on client goals and fitness levels. Learning to apply foundational principles like progressive overload, specificity, and recovery showed me just how much thought and strategy goes into safely and effectively improving performance. I’m excited to carry these skills forward and apply them when designing programs for real-life clients in the future.
What made this experience especially significant was seeing how theory translated into real-life scenarios. Creating a program for a hypothetical client and then adjusting it based on feedback, assessments, and progression helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the role of the trainer.
This reinforced my interest in working with individuals one-on-one and made me more confident in using evidence-based methods to support real, sustainable progress in fitness.