Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Smith.
Brianna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story is pretty simple! I’ve been an athlete for as long as I can remember. My parents had me in sports as soon as possible. As I grew up, I connected with gymnastics and competitive cheerleading which are both pretty strenuous. I had to be in shape or I wouldn’t perform well. I remember being in middle school & getting up to go to LA Fitness at 6 am on Saturday’s to work out with my mom. It sounds crazy but I loved it. In high school, I was one of the few girls who chose to take Weight Lifting instead of another elective. I remember my weightlifting coach, Coach Hurst, asking me and my best friend to compete in a local competition. I was all for it! Can you imagine the high school cheerleaders in a weightlifting competition? Probably not, but we were fairly strong for our size.
After high school, I ended up cheering in college where I had mandatory training with a strength coach. I’m not going to lie, that was my favorite part of cheering. Haha! After I stopped cheering, I still worked out a lot because it was my happy place. It was my escape from school, drama, etc. I used it to clear my head. Fast forward to last year, I kept talking to a friend of mine about getting my personal training certification but I never had the courage to actually go through with it. I would even train people here and there. I had the knowledge and passion but no drive. I was my biggest critic. I thought of every way I could fail instead of every way I could succeed. This past March, I decided to take a leap of faith & start my certification. It was one of the best things I’ve decided to do for myself! I’ll be completely certified in June and I couldn’t be more excited!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I work full time at the moment so making the time to study as well as still find time to workout is a challenge. It’s hard. It’s easy to get thrown off track or distracted because sometimes I feel like there’s not enough time in the day. There have been times when I question if I can really do it or if it’s worth it but I remind myself this is something I’ve talked about for a while so I have to stay focused and motivated.
My advice for anyone starting their journey is to never give up. So often, we are our own worst enemy. We will tell ourselves we can’t do it before anyone else does. Celebrate yourself! Starting a new journey is something to be proud of. Take pride in yourself! This is a new step in your life. Enjoy it, stay uplifted, stay motivated!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am up and coming personal trainer in the Atlanta area! I think one thing that sets me apart is my own journey throughout the fitness industry. I know what it’s like to feel like your trainer isn’t listening to you or understanding your goals. I also know how it is, to not feel a connection with your trainer. That’s so important to build trust with clients and to make sure you have a good relationship.
I also will be working with children! I know a lot of parents are concerned about the health of their children. Usually, after school is out, a lot of kids aren’t getting their physical activity in because there’s no more gym class! I definitely believe a healthy lifestyle starts at a young age!
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
When finding a mentor be as open as possible. A lot of us want to only be mentored by whoever is in the spotlight when there are so many other great people with less recognition. Also, be open to constructive criticism and advice. Remember, you want them to mentor you for a reason, so be receptive to what they are teaching you.
With networking, I know it’s intimidating at first. Especially, if you’re new in the industry but everyone was new at one point so don’t be shy! Be yourself and let your personality shine. The more genuine you are, the better! These days, it’s all about networking. So many opportunities are put in front of you when you step outside your box and meet new people.
Contact Info:
- Email: bri_nicole331@yahoo.com
- Instagram: _basically_brii_
- Twitter: _brii_nicole_
Image Credit:
Calvin Maurice Instagram: mr.mauricemedia
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