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Read our interview with Christina Ustiak below to get to know this week’s Campus Cutie!
Age: 23
Major: Higher Education Administration (Master’s Degree)
Year: Graduate Student
What are your involvements on campus and off campus?
I am currently working on my Master’s Degree here at FIU. I’m the Fitness Intern at the Rec Center for the MMC Campus. Also, I am a Group Fitness Instructor at both the MMC and BBC Recreation Centers, where I teach Zumba, Piloxing and Bokwa. I am sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma and currently serving as their Recruitment Advisor.
What are your plans as fitness instructor?
My plans as a Fitness Instructor is to help inspire others to live a healthy and active lifestyle. I have plans to work on expanding my fitness career by studying for my AFAA Group Fitness Certification and other fitness certifications. I want to inspire others too by sharing my story of how I was able to lose 100 pounds with the help of going to gym, taking classes, working with my trainers and living a healthy lifestyle but also by having fun classes that any one would love no matter what their skill level is, from beginner to advanced.
What has been your favorite memory at FIU?
I have many great memories during my time as an undergraduate and graduate student. My favorite memory would have to be teaching a Zumba class at the Rec Center for the first time after many months of friends and others asking me when will I be teaching at the Rec Center. When I saw my friends at the class, I knew it was going to be fun class no matter what. After the class, my friends and some of the students came up to me and were excited that I finally was joining the Rec Center and could not wait for me to teach more classes. It was a fun class and exciting for me to finally to be able to teach a class that so many of my friends had been waiting for.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
My plans for after graduation are to continue teaching fitness classes whether that be here at FIU or eventually studios in my neighborhood. Also, I would love to work either in a Campus Life (Student Activities) office and continue to work with students in Fraternities and Sororities or at a Campus Recreation Department and work with Fitness Instructors and Personal Trainers to help continue to inspire students and promote healthy living for students.
Do you have any advice to share with your fellow collegiettes?
Follow your dreams! If you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want to do! I learned that about myself in my undergraduate career by just trying new things, such as joining a sorority or being on a committee, such as Relay for Life, or even by going to a class at the gym. Take a chance and try something new and out of your comfort zone because you never know what will change your life.