How I Became A Certified Health Coach at 18
I have never really been sure about what my my “calling” was. When I was in elementary school, everyone asks you what you want to be when you grow up. The funny thing is, that is before we know what the real world is like, who we are, what we want financially, and how much time/money we spend getting training for that career path.
From 1st grade all the way up to basically sophomore year, I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian. It all came to a halting end when I went to a career speaker at school who was a technician at a local vets office. She was not the peppiest, kindest person I ever met but wow she really turned it around. She told us about how she spent 8 years in school and spent over $200,000 on college and isn’t making a whole lot. Not that money is everything, but I understood enough to realize that that is not good and how I wanted to spend my life. And she also mentioned how you have to put animals down, perform surgeries, memorize a ton of stuff in school like diseases, parts of the body, etc. Not for me and I knew that immediately. Walking out of that talk, I knew I needed to find something else.
At this time, I was transitioning to becoming vegan and learning more and more about the health of me, the animals, and the Earth. I had also been working on building my online bakery for a few months along with this blog, but neither one of them were vegan and no longer went along with my morals. So I transitioned my bakery to vegan goods and focused on new, better recipes for cookies, cakes, brownies, and granola that didn’t cause so much destruction. I also started posting recipes and some good vegan information like documentaries and things on here.
It was junior in high school and the pressure was on to get into the best school, get the best grades, and get the biggest scholarship. But I was over in the corner trying to find a degree or program where I could do something that I loved: promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle while helping people reach their health goals. I found all sorts of good programs like Plant Lab Culinary School and the Online Cornell Program for Plant-based Nutrition. Both of them fascinated me but I had to wait until I graduated high school to pursue them. I did some more searching and typed in “Holistic Nutrition Certification”. The first result was the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
IIN is an online-only, year-long program that focuses on healing from the inside out with simple and natural ways. There is so much information to learn in the year including over 100 dietary theories from around the world, macrobiotics, gut health, the importance of self-care, and so much more. We learn about how to start a health coaching business and they set you up with all the tools you need. Business cards, handouts, a website demo, and more. It is pretty remarkable what we can do all through a computer screen and in one year.
In February of 2018, I enrolled and was on my journey to become a health coach. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with my certificate. I wasn’t sold on becoming a health coach. I thought maybe this was a good stepping stone to see if I wanted to go to college and get a degree in Integrative Health perhaps, or maybe this wasn’t for me. I had to try it out. It is all great information to have just for yourself/family but I wanted to share it as soon as I started. I instantly knew that this was what I needed to do. I felt the need to help heal people and change people’s lives with this information.
So that’s what I am setting out to do. I work with clients through online coaching sessions and over the phone to help them reach their health goals. I offer multiple packages to tailor to anyone and everyone to get people where they want to be. Self Care, Intention Setting, Primary Food Balance are the most popular packages I offer. I can help you reach goals like curb caffeine + sugar cravings, manage stress, lose weight, and much much more. But I also have a Vegan Package. It’s tailored for all those people out there who want to make the change but don’t know what to shop for, what to buy, and/or how to change your lifestyle.
Click here to learn more about Integrative Nutrition.
Click here to inquire about becoming one of my clients
Click here to book a session right here, right now
In a way, everything I have ever dreamed of and hoped for has come together in harmony all at once. From the beginning, I have dreamed of healing and studying health. I have always hoped I would one day have my own business and be own boss. I have manifested my dream. And this independent practice may not be the end result for my career. IIN is just a stepping stone. But it is a step that will lead to more healing and helping.
Now I am in college and loving it! I am studying at Arizona State University. My major is called Integrative Health. Sound familiar? It took a long time for me to find something I wanted to study. I didn’t want to go for nursing or pre-med. That just isn’t what I want. I want holistic health with a focus on the mind and body. And let me tell you, that is exactly what I got from this major. Here is the description of the major:
Health care is not “one size fits all.” Every patient has their own unique needs and background that must be addressed to ensure proper treatment. That’s why the Integrative Health degree prepares graduates to treat each patient holistically, focusing not just on their body, but their mind and spirit as well. By engaging patients as individuals and drawing treatments from traditional, conventional and complementary medicines, graduates are well-positioned to address health care challenges for diverse populations.
I absolutely love it and if you are passionate about health like I am, I really recommend it. I have been about to study online so I can continue to have my health coaching practice, make Youtube videos, and other content for you guys. But don’t worry, I am still having my college experience :) I love having the flexibility and learning at my own pace. Online is a great option if you are working or don’t want to move to AZ. I am so happy to be living there in the heat and in a very vegan-friendly area. No complaints there!
I hope this inspired you to make some changes and go for your biggest dreams. I am living it right now and I want to inspire each and every one of you to do the same. If you have any questions about anything mentioned above or college or anything, please feel free to contact me here <3
