Hokie Feature: Nicky Pond
Senior Nicky Pond has found that her experiences in personal fitness and her time spent in the Corps overlap, especially regarding self-discipline and leadership.
“[The Corps of Cadets] gives you a unique perspective on how to lead people and the opportunities to lead people. The opportunities and experiences are a lot different than a typical college experience. It gives you practice being an adult and the discipline that comes with it. Structure, discipline, professionalism, and leadership are the biggest takeaways from being in the corps.”
Recognizing her love for fitness and wanting others to revel in the same, Pond became a personal trainer for Rec Sports.
“I have really enjoyed being a personal trainer for the past year and a half. It has given me the opportunity to meet so many new people. I get to program workouts specific to individual Hokies that not only help them reach their goals, but also helps them create happier, healthier, more confident versions of themselves.”
Embarking upon her fitness journey in high school, Pond reflects on her first weightlifting competition.
“I got into weightlifting and did a competition in high school and really liked it. I just wanted to try something new. It definitely took a lot of self-discipline, but I liked the aspect of being able to research and have that knowledge about how to go about it and how to train my body and get to know what works for me.
[My biggest takeaway from that competition was that] change takes time. I tried to rush it. I gave myself maybe 8-10 weeks, but some people I was competing against compete half of the year. If you want to see those types of changes, they take time and they take discipline. Don’t rush it and trust the process.”
Pond’s time with Rec Sports and her outlook on the Hokie Movement has drastically changed her time at the university.
“Working with Rec Sports is probably the best job anybody could have in college. I think it is the single best decision I have made in college. It’s allowed me to meet and be surrounded by so many like-minded people who care about helping others. VT Rec makes Tech feel smaller. You walk around campus and don’t know who these people are, but at Virginia Tech Rec Sports, it’s such a small community. You recognize faces, and even if you don’t know someone’s name, someone is always going to say hello to you.
Being a part of the Hokie Movement has been the most pivotal part of my time here at Virginia Tech. I really love the idea of how there really isn’t one right way to workout and be healthy. No matter what you’re doing, you are a part of that movement, and it’s a beautiful thing because it encourages people to develop lifelong, healthy habits in ways that work for them.”
#HokieFeature: Nicky Pond | Personal Trainer | Corps of Cadets | Class of 2021