The three-year degree touched on many of the areas I was interested in, from nutrition, to psychology, to research, chemistry, biology, and the list goes on. Although only getting a small taste of each of these areas, I was able to confidently cross many off my list of possible career moves. Most of the degree focussed on the anatomy and physiology of the human body, the biomechanics of movement, and how to perform and prescribe exercises. This is where it really began to capture my attention - the functioning of the human body is something truly fascinating!

And so, I completed my degree, with a head full of knowledge and an eagerness to put it to use. So now what?

In the final months of finishing up my degree, I also managed to squeeze in my Certificates III & IV in Fitness, which meant I was fully qualified to be a personal trainer - a career I wasn't 100% keen on pursuing, but at least it was something. The world was full of possibilities and for about a year, it was too overwhelming to settle on one particular thing. I considered Allied Health Assistance, Hydrotherapy, Yoga - all of which required further study.

Eventually, I accepted that I would have to return to study if I really wanted to go deeper into a particular area of health. And the area I chose was Pilates. Almost 18 months after finishing university, I stepped into my newest adventure - a Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy. Now, I'll be honest, I still wasn't entirely sure exactly what Pilates was. I'd had some exposure to Pilates during university and so I was aware of the different pieces of equipment, but apart from that, I wouldn't have been able to tell you what made Pilates different from any other form of exercise.

It didn't take long for me to work out this Pilates stuff was a bit different to what I was used to. Coming from an Exercise Science background, my mentor Donna threw me right into the deep end, challenging both what I knew and how I moved. It was the wake-up call I was waiting for and the more I was exposed to this new world, the more I felt like I was heading in the right direction.

Pilates was well-thought out, with only good intentions. It was specific, right down to every segment of the spine and every molecule of air in the lungs. It was challenging, both of the body and the mind. And what I loved the most: it worked. I could feel myself growing stronger, more flexible, more aware of what I was doing, and I could help others feel that way too! I had somehow found the perfect combination of all those different career paths I was once considering. The flexibility of Yoga, the weightlessness of Hydrotherapy, the movement correction of Rehabilitation.

Finally, I was able to put all that I had learnt at university to use. It was a real advantage to have an understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, something I had come to take for granted. I learnt about pathologies and how to work with them, how to teach, how to move, and how to see. Pilates just seemed to make sense!

The Diploma style of learning was completely different to what I had experienced at university. From the size of the cohort, to the assessment style, the practicality of the content, and the more hands-on experience. There are definitely aspects of both which I have grown to love. Pilates has become something I want to share with people for as long as I can. Throughout my Diploma experience I have learnt more than just a syllabus, and gained more than just a piece of paper. It has shaped who I am and what I want to do. I can't think of anything more rewarding than being able to help people move - an aspect of life we so easily take for granted, until we lose it.

At last I can say I know where I'm heading and that I'm thankful for the road I took to get here.