Samantha Collins

I grew up always participating sports and having an interest in physical activity. In high school I got more involved in the Athletic Training department, took an athletic training class, took an anatomy and physiology class, and became the Athletic Trainer's assistant. I worked as a student trainer at most junior varsity sporting events and helped work some other Varsity events. When applying to universities I decided to find an Athletic Training program to further educate myself. I attended Winthrop University and enrolled in their Athletic Training program. By the end of my first semester, I felt like I wasn't getting a lot of hands on experience so I changed my major to Exercise Science. I focus more on the fitness aspects of my schooling and learned that teaching fitness classes and exercising where my favorite parts of my day. When graduating with my B.S. in Exercise Science I got the opportunity to work as an intern for a corporate fitness center inside Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina's office building. There I met my mentor who taught me the ins and outs of operating a gym, teaching classes, and organizing group exercise instructors. When I finished my hours there I applied for a job working at a city funded recreation center. I started as a fitness assistant helping register members and teaching classes. I worked there for 2 1/2 years and was eventually made a recreation leader, helping to organize fitness classes and help plan health and wellness events. Then most recently I got a new job working for the newest recreation center. I was hired to be the fitness coordinator. I am responsible for the daily running of the cardio room, weight room, and fitness room. I also plan the fitness class schedule along with hiring the fitness instructor staff. I teach a majority of the fitness classes and work to mentor other staff members to become group fitness instructors. My future plans include becoming a Director of a Recreation facility, the operator of a gym or fitness studio or a Zumba Education Specialist.