Whether she’s shooting a basketball, spiking a volleyball, or lifting weights, Anna Eddy has always loved to exercise.

“My family was just very athletic, very active,” Eddy said. “I have always loved working my body really hard and pushing myself in the physical aspect.”

Now a sophomore at Hillsdale, she spends time working on transforming her passion into a profession. Over the course of the year, Eddy will prepare herself to become a certified personal trainer this summer. 

“I’ve always just had a desire and an inspiration to work with people on their physical bodies and in athletics,” she said.

She believes working as a personal trainer will be the perfect combination of exercise and service and is excited to pursue this career at Hillsdale.

To achieve her goal, Eddy is studying exercise science and is enjoying interacting with the faculty in her department.

“The professors are great, and the community is awesome,” she said. “I like to be able to go and speak with them and see what I can learn from them.”

To share her love of exercise with women on campus, Eddy started the Ladies in Fitness Training (LIFT) with a friend, sophomore Tatum Linde. The group meets from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday nights in the Founders Gym and focuses on learning the proper techniques of weight lifting in a fun environment. By getting her personal trainer certification, Eddy hopes to help a wider range of women in the club.

“I think it would be helpful if I do have my personal trainer certification,” she explained.  “So that I can help those women who are either more advanced or beginner on the correct techniques.” 

Freshman Penelope Campbell, who joined the club to learn the basics of weight lifting, appreciates Eddy’s leadership.

“I’m a beginner, so it was intimidating at first,” Campbell said. “But Anna and the other girls at the club show everyone how to do all the workouts which is great for those of us who don’t have any prior experience.” 

In LIFT, Eddy inspires the girls around her not only to challenge their bodies but also to enjoy exercise. Sophomore Maggie Potwardowski thinks Eddy’s enthusiasm brings a special dynamic to the lift group.

“Anna makes the whole experience really fun,” she said. “Her smile is so contagious, and it’s easy to have a good time whenever you’re around her.” 

Eddy’s degree will prepare her to take her certification course, which consists of online classes and an exam. Eddy plans to complete her certification this summer so that next fall she can begin working as a personal trainer on campus. 

For Eddy, a major part of preparation is collaborating with student athletes and athletic trainers on campus.

“It’s all about your connections, and so I’m trying to rely a lot on that and who I can talk to,” she said. 

To gain experience, Eddy is working with the Charger football team and travels with them to assist during games.

“I’m trying to learn more from the athletic trainers there,” she said.

Additionally, she has also worked at several gyms over the past few years, leading workouts and learning from other trainers. 

Eddy also stressed the importance of something often forgotten in fitness: quality nutrition.

“A lot of times people don’t really know how that affects their bodies and their daily lives. And that has a huge impact on how you perform and how you do daily activities,” she explained.

As part of her degree in exercise science, Eddy will take classes in nutrition, which she can use to help future clients achieve their fitness goals. 

In addition to personal training, Eddy also is considering getting certified as an athletic trainer, which requires graduate studies. Her long term goal though is to open her own gym and work with a variety of different people, from beginners to college athletes.

In addition to working with athletes, she sees herself helping elderly people maintain their physical wellness at her gym. This could look like building up strength and stability or helping them function in their daily environments. 

For students just beginning their fitness journeys, Eddy recommends finding a form of exercise that’s enjoyable.

“Just get your body moving in a way that you find is fun,” she said. “Honestly, any way that you can move your body is going to help you in every aspect of your life.”