Final Reflection Questions​: ​The following should also be expounded upon in ​complete sentences​.

3-4

1. While writing your paper, what did you learn about the research process?
While writing the paper, the research process taught me about the importance of finding credible
sources. Also, citations and MLA format are extremely in depth but insanely important, that the length
requirement was challenging to complete but not impossible. Also, I learned how to differentiate bad
sources from good ones and how the quality of information changes through each source.

2. How was the research related to your mentor hours?

My research was related to my mentor hours as it summarized all aspects of the personal training career.
My mentor hours included behind the scenes and in the field work of a real personal trainer. In my paper
I researched all aspects of the career from education to finding a place to work and what it is like from
day-to-day in the fitness field. Most everything I researched within the Pride Paper process translated
over into my mentoring process. My research set me up with a basic understanding of the career before
fully immersing myself into the field.

3. Summarize the mentor hours that you completed.

My mentor hours were completed at Lake Norman Fitness Specialists, co-owned by my mentor Josh
Soper. My mentor hours consisted of both behind the scenes and in the field work. My first day, I was
able to shadow a woman named Winky, and watch as my mentor brought her closer to her goal of
weight loss and general health through specific exercises. On the second day, I learned goal setting, and
how important S.M.A.R.T goals are to the training career. On my third day, I was lucky enough to get to
shadow another client, Susan. Susan suffered through chronic lower back pain, so it was genuinely
helpful to observe the chosen exercise and see how my mentor interacts with his clients. Day four
consisted of behind the scenes learning again, spanning the areas of nutrition and body types. I was
taught the different body types for males and females and how nutrition ties into each one. Day five
consisted of another shadowing session for another client, Todd. Todd also suffered from many back
injuries, therefore it was helpful to see how my mentor worked around the pain to strengthen the rest of
the body. On my sixth day, I learned the most important factor of personal training, programming. I was
taught the basics of programming and how to tie in templates and exercise libraries. My last day was
spent as myself in the field. Mr. Soper showed me all the equipment in Lake Norman Fitness Specialists,
and how to properly lift them and care for them.

4. How did working with your mentor affect your understanding of the topic area and /or the
professional world?
Working with my mentor affected my understanding of the topic area and the professional world. This is
because my mentor works in the field full-time as a certified personal trainer, and was able to teach
me/show me how to do the behind the scenes work of personal training (research, programming), and
also the up close aspects when he allowed me to communicate with his clients, shadow their sessions,
and take notes/ask questions. I learned the valuable social skills associated with the job and how my
research paper connected to the career.
a. If you mentor was not directly related to your topic, what did you learn about the
profession that can be translated to any future professional setting?
 N/A
b. If your mentor contributed to the development of the product, how were they involved?
My mentor contributed to the development of the product by providing me with the tools and
knowledge of programming, and ensuring that my products were safe, effective, and tailored to
the client by an ending review. If my mentor felt that there should be a change in my programs,
he documented it and then approved it once all conditions were met. Then the evidence of
corrections were photo-copied and edited into the improved program.

5. How did creating a product and completing the hours challenge you personally?
Creating a product and completing the hours challenged me personally because it forced me to keep my
mind on the product at all times, following a distinct timeline to the best of my ability. Creating a
product was difficult, as I had to keep in mind how long the process would take and how demanding this
product would be. Also, completing the hours was a challenge, as I depended on the open time slots of
Lake Norman Fitness Specialists. Overall the process was a challenge, but it paid off in the end with
outside knowledge and learned skills.

6. Do you feel prepared academically and emotionally for the presentation?

I do feel academically and emotionally prepared for the presentation because I am confident about my
topic and my product. I am also confident in all of the hard work that I put in to the overall process over
the past few months. I feel that I can adequately explain everything from the career, to the thought
process, and finally to the end result. I also believe that I am confident enough about the whole process
to deliver my presentation in an intriguing and orderly fashion.
a. If not, why? What challenges do you still face to feel prepared?
N/A

7. How did the entire process “stretch” you as a learner and as an individual?
The entire process “stretched” me as a learner and as an individual because it challenged me to engulf
myself in the profession and talk to real people in my community. It not only transformed my social and
life skills, but it also worked to help me understand how the personal trainer career functions in every
aspect. The product especially taught me time management skills and further developed my knowledge
on filming and editing videos. The process brought me out of my comfort zone and stretched me to be
more open minded and have an interest in a chosen career.

8. Other than time management, describe an obstacle you encountered and how you overcame it.
Other than time management, an obstacle that I encountered was my first product idea. Originally, I
intended on training a client and tracking their progress, especially since the judges wanted tangible
products and real evidence of improvement. After discussion and thought with a teacher, I decided that
this product would not work, since I am not a certified personal trainer I should not be training a real
person. To overcome this obstacle, I focused on the backbone of the personal training career which is
writing fitness programs. I had shifted my product to four personalized fitness programs that spanned six
weeks. This way I could challenge myself by designing workouts around individuals or injuries instead
of potentially harming a test subject.
9. What “life skills” did you acquire and how will they help you in the future?
The “life skills” that I acquired were critical thinking, time management, social intelligence/people
skills, communication, decision making, and handling criticism. These vital skills will help me in the
future not only when encountering the personal training career, but also when working with people in
the community or completing a big task. Especially seen in my mentoring process, social skills are
essential within the personal training career, and have helped me to learn how to communicate with
people better. My life skills will translate on through the rest of my academic career and later on into
real world situations.

10. If you had to go back and do parts of the project again, what would you do differently?
If I had to go back and do parts of the project again, I would change a few aspects. First, I would change
the details of my overall product. I originally wanted to film a documentary-style video, but after
preparation of the product, I realized that this formatting of video was not appropriate and instead should
have chosen a more explanatory video. Also, I would have changed my timeline accordingly to the
openings of the gym for equipment usage and filming. Also, I would have given more time to edit my
videos, since each video totaled up to about an hour and a half.

11. Based on the entire Pride Project experience, do you plan to pursue this field as a career or college
area of study? If so, why? If not, why? Please be specific.
Based on the entire Pride Project experience, I do not plan to pursue this field as a career or college area
of study. This career is one that is a lifestyle, most personal trainers also tend to their personal fitness as
well as others which would be something of habit to me. Even though I found the career extremely
interesting and in depth, I do not believe that it would financially be a good fit for me.