Stepping into a sports medicine classroom at State High, one might hear an explanation of how to calculate the average heart rate during exercise or observe students practicing the proper technique to treat an ankle sprain. But within the terminology and techniques, the teachers embed meaningful life skills and prepare students for not only their future career but life as a human being.
State High’s Health Professions program includes Advanced Personal Training/Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition, a “nested classes” credit option. Taking a “nested class” credit option means taking the three different classes with the same group of students.
The combination of Personal Training, Exercise Science and Sports Nutrition classes is designed to prepare students to take the American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainers exam and pursue careers relating to sports medicine, such as physical therapy and athletic training.
Dr. Jennifer Reed, teacher of Advanced Personal Training at State High, describes how providing unique course options, such as Advanced Personal Training/Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition, places State High students at an advantage as they prepare for the future.
“I just think it’s important for us to offer unique opportunities in the Career and Tech Center. Everybody takes English, everybody takes biology, everybody takes, you know, health and PE, but I think it’s nice for kids to have options. I think if they can explore here in high school and find their interest in high school, it’s cheaper, it’s faster than if you go off to college and have no idea what you want to do,” Reed said.
Senior Madison Martin, a student enrolled in Advanced Personal Training/Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition, describes how taking the course allowed her to narrow down her focus on what she would like to pursue after high school.
“I was pretty sure I wanted to be a physical therapist, and … since I signed up for [Adv Personal Training/Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition], I’ve decided that I kind of want to go more like the business route, like sports management. But I decided to still take the class, because I think you learn, like, a lot of useful things, just like also being an athlete,” she said.
On top of being an advanced course, students of Advanced Personal Training/Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition have the ability to earn college credit. Because of this, content is taught at a college level, but also adjusted to fit high school.
Reed said, “[It’s] challenging to have them at [the college] level, but also bring it down, so it’s appropriate for seniors.”
Despite the courses’ rigorous and in-depth nature, Reed makes an effort to incorporate meaningful life skills, like balance and communication, within the course material.
“I think it’s fun to try to infuse a lot of life skills in amongst the content that sometimes they don’t even realize they’re learning. … That’s what I hear from [students], like they’ll remember things, and it’s not even necessarily something we tested on, but it’s just important to life,” Reed said.
Self-care to perform the best in sports and other activities is an example of a life skill Martin applied to her life from the course.
“In Sports Nutrition, we learned a lot about different energy systems and how to fuel effectively throughout the day, which I’ve definitely applied. So I think that’s really helpful for anybody. And kind of just taking into consideration, like, your activities throughout the day and … other factors that can just help you eat the best that you can,” Martin said.
The course also strengthens communication and connection skills as students grow close to the community of peers they attend all three classes with.
“Since it’s such a small class, I think we’re all like, closer, and we also see each other every day. So that’s nice,” Martin said.
Reflecting on her goals for the class, Reed wants students to balance the high expectations of the course with having fun.
Reed said, “Honestly, [I just want them] to learn to laugh, not take themselves too seriously, but have high expectations and high accountability, but to do that with a balance of fun.”
