Last Thursday I finished up my last two assignments for my
Masters degree in Exercise Science. Between this last 5 week semester of two classes,
work and trying to have a life I was extremely busy. However I will always tell
you I would rather be busy than bored.
After I finished up my assignments I took a minute and just
sat. I let my mind wander to the places it goes when I let it. This time it
started to think about how that could potentially be the last assignments I
ever turn in to get a grade for a class. For me that is a tough concept to
grasp.
In grade school I got
work done easily and in high school I was too busy being a big fish in a pretty
small pond to focus on my grades, I was complacent, because I didn’t have to
apply myself. I got my reality check
quickly when I was in college. I had more freedom then ever but school was
actually something I had to work at. For the last 2 and a half years of my
college career I worked harder than ever before, I still could have done better
but it’s a moot point now. After unsuccessfully getting into Doctorate of
Physical Therapy programs, for now two years, last summer I applied and got into an online
master of science program from California University of Pennsylvania in
Exercise Science, with a concentration in rehabilitation sciences. This program
was again an eye opening experience. The program at CALU is in conjunction with
the National Academy of Sports Medicine and allowed me to get a certification
as a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES). All and all it taught me a lot about
movement which has aided me as a health professional and a personal trainer.
Some of the other courses focused on different aspects of
Exercise science, advanced exercise physiology, nutrition, research etc. My
favorite among these courses was a leadership class. Like all classes you get
out what you put into it, this one was a tad bit different. It forced me to
look at me as an individual and analyze what I do and don’t do well. It was
humbling but truly necessary for personal and professional growth. That class
made me a personal mess and created an uneasy feeling in my stomach when working
on some assignments. I mean who likes to be brutally honest with themselves and
realize they have a lot of areas they can improve on to be a better person. But
after the weeks of exercises and reflections I came out a lot better than when
I started. I had realized I wasn’t a very fun person to be around due to the
lifestyle change of work and school and living back with my parents. So I
applied those changes and started to feel a lot better about myself and as soon
as my outlook changed life started to change for the better.
I have been in formal schooling for 20 years. I am burnt
out, but yet it has been a constant in my life that is hard to think of being
without. I have been finished for 3 days and I am already bored. I now get
to really focus on continuing to learn about different aspects of fitness not present in the traditional educational realm,
myofascial release, movement, programming for specific needs, and whatever else I want to read (Batman graphic
novels to be specific).
I am still contemplating going back and retaking the pre-requisites
I need to try and get into a Doctorate program. But as for now I will bid adieu
to formal schooling, I will learn everyday as much as I can, as a professional
and a person and summon up all the patience I have to see what lies ahead (more
on that later) because it has a lot of potential to be a fun and crazy ride in
the near future.
I’m excited for it
David J Bromberg MS
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