And just like that? 12 weeks went a lot faster than I would have thought. The mentorship that Virtus provides, taught me so much about myself, exercise and the environment you surround yourself in.
In July 2018, I was told to start considering work placement for Semester 1 2019. The impatient and determined person I am decided to get my placement hours sorted quickly. I rushed to get all my pre-placement requirements organised, so I could complete my hours over the summer break. This was probably one of the best uni decisions I've made.
I came across the Virtus Mentorship through my work placement coordinator, who sends out a bunch of emails weekly, prompting students to get placement done over the summer. I would spend ages scrolling through all the advertisements, overthinking each one. They were either too far away from home or something I would think I was not good enough for. When I came across the advertisement for Virtus, I was excited when I realised it was only 10 minutes away from home. Plus, it looked like a pretty impressive gym.
After spending an hour of stalking their social media and website, I thought to myself,?alright this place looks cool?. From that moment on, the more I learned about what this company valued, the more eager I was to sign up.
In week 1 of the mentorship, there was a lot of talk about?comfort zone?. This made me feel excited and nervous all at the same time. I remember thinking at one stage after my first shift,?oh well I can always just give up and stop coming if this is way too much outside of my comfort zone?. I look back at this thought now, and laugh.
When it came to week 12, I really thought about how I couldn't see myself leaving. I hit a realisation of how much I had learnt, in such a short time. Each moment of lecture content, masterclasses and face-to-face training I observed, has helped towards my knowledge and awareness. Every conversation I had with clients and staff, has helped me towards building my confidence and communication. Looking back on the past 12 weeks, I realise how much this has contributed toward my personality and skills.
Overall, after the mentorship, I developed a tonne of lifestyle changes that have stuck with me. This includes daily gratitude, journalling, 5am wake ups, reading, mindfulness, always* being open-minded, confident and curious. Although, my biggest takeaway would be the excitement I feel for whatever the future has planned. And the thing is, I have no idea what that plan is. Before I started at Virtus, this thought would scare me. But now, I honestly feel more ready than ever to tackle any challenges that come my way.
*When I can help it.