Exercise the mind and body through a fitness diploma
TEENAGER Cameron Thompson is aiming high after completing an exercise and fitness diploma.
The 17-year-old, from Birmingham, completed the qualification in July at BMet, a further education college in the West Midlands.
Cameron studied for the NVQ Level 2 diploma while also achieving success in national trampoline tournaments. He also undertook a Trampoline Gymnastics Level 1 diploma.
Cameron, who began studying for the qualifications last September, says: ‘My course definitely helped me improved my athletic performance and get better at training others. I learned an incredible amount about how muscles work and how the body reacts during exercise.
‘I use this knowledge all the time to explain to others why certain exercises benefit the body.’
Cameron’s sporting progress has led to a gold medal in the men’s 17+ category of the 2016 British Trampoline Championships.
He also gained silver and bronze medals for his individual and synchronized performances in the Association of Colleges Sport National Championships in April.
He said: ‘My classmates were a mix of people the same age as me and mature students looking to become personal trainers.
‘There was even someone who used to be a trampoline coach, so we’d share stories and advice. We all gained valuable experience of the exercise environment and communicating with different people.’
Cameron is now studying A-levels in economics, mathematics and physics at BMet and his schedule is busier than ever.
‘My career is important to me. My plan was to take some time out and study exercise and fitness before doing A- levels,’ he says.
‘Trampoline has been a big part of my life for the past four years, so I also want to take it as far as I possibly can — ideally that will be to the 2020 Olympics.’
Meanwhile 25- year- old Cassie Knight is now a PE teacher after studying for a BTEC Level 3 in sport (coaching and fitness) at Walsall College between September 2008 and July 2010.
She says: ‘ Passing the course enabled me to go to university and do a degree in sport and then get into teaching, a job I really love.’