March 28, 2024

Becoming ‘Marathon Meseke’

I used to hate running. Absolutely hated it. That was 10 years ago. The year is now 2016 and I have run six marathons including the Boston Marathon. So what happened? What changed? How did I go from a Fashion Merchandising major to an Exercise Science major?

Throughout junior high, I had been involved in sports year-round. When I got to high school, things turned out a little different. When I was a freshman, I tried out for the volleyball team and when you’re 4-feet 11-inches tall, you don’t make the team.

Although I didn’t make the volleyball team, I still went out for the soccer team in the spring. I quickly found out soccer is 50 percent running and 50 percent soccer. I had never run so much in my life; it seemed like boot camp. I worked hard each day and eventually became faster than most of the girls. It was then I decided to go out for the cross country team in the fall instead of trying out for volleyball again. My first cross country season was fantastic and best of all, they don’t make cuts. Everyone was welcomed regardless of speed. It was such a fun atmosphere that I decided to drop soccer in the spring and go out for track. Track only solidified my newfound passion for running. I knew I wanted to continue to running after high school and throughout college.

During my first and second years of community college I played soccer in the fall — that’s it. Unfortunately my community college didn’t offer more than two different sports. In its place, I became a very active YMCA member at the Scott County Family Y and next thing I knew I was a Zumba instructor. I was teaching three to seven classes each week and loved every minute of it. My predecessor had mentioned to me that she was an exercise science major at a local university. I had no idea someone could major in exercise. After teaching Zumba for four months, I noticed some of my participants were losing a substantial amount of weight. I couldn’t have been more excited to see that I was helping these members become healthier and achieving their weight loss goals. It was then I realized that I had found my true passion in life and immediately changed my major. Luckily I was at a community college so I was just working on my gen eds. I had transferred to a college to study exercise science and those classes helped solidify I had made the right decision.

After receiving my bachelor’s degree in human performance and fitness from St. Ambrose University, I eagerly began my career search. During this time I was an assistant cross country coach at my alma mater community college. I worked that part-time job and was unfortunately unable to find a full-time job. After my student loans starting to kick in, I realized that my best option was to return to school and get my master’s. I found myself scrambling in the fall in hopes to start a program in the spring semester. I had applied to four colleges and was fortunate to be accepted at the University of Northern Iowa. I started in the spring of 2015 and began my 1.5 year long program. When I began at UNI, I applied to work at the Black Hawk County YMCA in Waterloo.

Both teaching and interning at the Y, I was able to learn the ins and outs of the day to day operations of a wellness director. I was also awarded two graduate assistantships teaching leisure classes and academic classes, and working the group fitness/personal training office.

During my last semester of graduate school, I began my job search. This time I was a lot more confident in my abilities and the experience I had received. I started to get phone interviews and eventually in-person interviews at several YMCAs.

On April 20, I was fortunate enough to be offered my dream job as a Wellness Director at the Newton YMCA. This was the best feeling ever because I had locked down a job before graduating. Going back to school was the most beneficial experience and decision I had ever made. I am on my third week into being a wellness director and I absolutely love it. I have already made connections with so many staff and Y members that sometimes I cannot believe this is all real.

I am so blessed and honored that these wonderful people chose me to help inspire others to achieve healthy living goals.