How would I got about this career?

Question

I really want to be involved in something to do with people. I love helping people. I noticed that ever since I lost all the weight I did I wanted to help others do the same. I have a talent for helping others on a more motivational and emotional level. I can really understand others and help them overcome problems and achieve goals. I don't know how to prepare myself and go about this in college. What courses would be good? I want to be like an inspiration fitness coach. Not just some a**hole who barks orders at people. I'm still not sure about this career. I'm going to be a junior in high school.

Answer 1

It's great that you have people skills. These days many people just want to make a lot of money, but could care less about human beings, which is very sad. One suggestion, you could do volunteer work at a fitness center, hospital, or nutrition center. With your people skills many will greatly appreciate you. Volunteer work will give you a chance to network and meet people in the type of profession(s) you are interested in. Then you could speak to these professionals and find out more about the education required and what particularly is involved in these career(s). There are so many different careers that require excellent people skills: nursing, psychology, physical therapy, gym teacher, dietician, just to name a few. Also, you could speak to your guidance counselor at school and find out if there is a program in your school where they offer work experience and/or training certain days per week or certain weeks each month. Tell your guidance counselor what you are interested in, and maybe he/she can find a program that matches your interests. You should absolutely focus on fitness courses as well as health and dietetics (diet related courses) since these are your main interests.  However, you still have another year before you go to college. Within this time, you might change your mind and find something else you might like better. Anyway, try to find out and speak to as many people as possible in as much of these diversified/related professions that come to mind. You will learn by just interviewing, observing, volunteering, and so forth. Hopefully afterwards you would probably make a decision. If not, in college many courses and a new world of experience will open up, and there will be other opportunities to check out. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

You know...  If you're good at motivating people and want to help them physically, you could have a great career as a physical therapist.  The pay is good, and with our aging society, you'd have some great job security.  There are programs specifically for physical therapy.

But if you want to be a fitness coach, then try for a degree in nutrition.  A few business courses might help, too.  In the meantime, get a part-time job at Curves or some other gym or nutritional center.  If possible, make friends with a current personal trainer and find out what the job is really like.  Ask to be their lowly unpaid assistant.

Don't be shy about bugging your advisors and professors for help.  Better yet, go to your school's career service center and ask them to help you find a job or internship at a nutritional center.

Answer 3

Consider social work or nursing as a starting point for your inspirational/motivational empire!

Answer 4

Good college classes to take would definitely be in the fitness field, and some in the nutritional field if they have any.  As long as you get a degree in what you want, your behavior is up to you.  If you don't want to be an a**hole, then don't.