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The Development of a Professional

By
Amadeo Beraun
PHYE 160-C01W
Professor Jaime Tigue
November 01, 2012




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Amadeo Beraun
Professor Jaime Tigue
PHYE 160-C01W
November 01, 2012
The Development of a Professional
Everybody wants to be something when they grow up, but what is that exactly? It could
be anything really, but for some people it can be decided later in life through their own
experiences with various fields of interest. In my experience I discovered that my attention was
drawn towards the field of exercise science because of my desire to help those that have health
issues and to restore them to their normal everyday selves. To become a professional in this field
of interest will be very challenging indeed, and I will more than likely feel cornered at times, but
I wont let that stop me. When I meet the qualifications for becoming a professional in my field
of interest I will be able to help people using the knowledge I gain from physical education,
fitness, and sport.
Historical Practices, Philosophies, and Trends
In the historical practices of fitness such as the primitive lifestyles that date back to
10,000 B.C. focused on the idea that being physically fit was crucial to survival. People were
required to participate in extensive physical activity for the tasks of hunting and gathering. Going
into the historical practices of sport such as the Greeks and Romans was very interesting in the
sense that they used sport as a tool for influencing their religion. The Romans were similar, but a
difference in them was that they used the practices of physical education to improve the
efficiency of their military. All of these practices were very effective in establishing the
knowledge base of physical education, fitness, and sport for these different cultures.
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After reviewing some of the historical practices in physical education, fitness, and sport I
realized that they have influenced my professional philosophy in multiple ways. We as a society
can use the practices in the past to influence our current understanding on the subject. There will
always be a need to be physically fit, but to a certain extent, its not like everyone needs to be in
the exact same shape as an Olympian. The important thing is that we need to be more concerned
about the overall health of people and how these practices can help achieve that goal.
Changing Philosophies in Physical Education, Fitness, and Sport
Friedrich Jahn was a man who devoted his life to developing patriotism for Germans
through the practice of gymnastics. American gymnastic systems unintentionally supported the
idea of nationalism which brought about the effort to respond to large numbers of rejection for
the World War I and II fitness tests. The influence of sport on Puritanism in early American life
was a success in getting religion and sport to reach an understanding through the philosophy
known as muscular Christianity. All of these changing philosophies and the influences on them
have affected the way our society has changed through the years.
I personally agree with all of these philosophies because they all benefited our society in
one way or another. The idea of patriotism and using fitness to strengthen ones devotion to their
country by enjoying a sport such as gymnastics is very agreeable. We will always need a military
for the protection of our country and in order to keep it strong there must be a practice of fitness.
In the philosophy of muscular Christianity, the idea that sport and fitness can develop the mental
and moral personalities of people so that they can more effectively practice their religion seems
right to me. As Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, For performance of good mark, it (the body)
needs extraordinary health.(31)
Past Experiences in Physical Education, Fitness, and Sport
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One of my best experiences in fitness would have to be during my senior year in high
school when I made the 1200 pound club. My school organized a type of competition in which
they added up the max of four major core lifts and placed students into pound clubs. I started as a
sophomore in the 900 pound club and from then on dedicated all of my time to reaching my goal.
It was truly an experience that defined my whole career in high school, but it also gave me
something to boast about to my friends.
I think my only bad experience in physical education took place in my middle school
years, during the 8
th
grade. The physical education teacher our class was assigned to didnt really
motivate my passion for sport or fitness and was also very lethargic. All of these experiences,
good and bad, have influenced my professional development. As a future professional in the field
I know that it is important to practice what I preach so that others will follow the examples I set
forth. It is also important that I become a good teacher, so that people that learn under me will
have the desire to learn physical education.
Professional Opportunities
In my field of interest there are a vast amount of skills that are necessary to be considered
well trained and proficient. I feel that I possess some of these skills, but to be honest I still need
to improve on some of these as well as acquire the ones that I dont already possess. Computer
skills, scheduling, speaking, and leadership skills are the ones that I feel confident in, however I
could always improve so that I may represent myself better. I have always been comfortable with
computers in school and using my phone and notepad to schedule important events. My friends
tell me I have a way with words, which is probably a good thing, and my ability to lead has
always come naturally.
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The skills that I dont possess are probably the ones involving that of language and social
skills. Ive never really been what people may call a social butterfly and I never really learned
my second language, being that I am Hispanic. My plan to develop these skills that I am lacking
in will involve possibly taking some courses in foreign language. I will be taking a sociology
class eventually and hopefully that will help develop my social skills as well. Regardless of the
skill that I have or dont have, I will make sure I am ready when the time comes.
Professional Goals
As a professional in my chosen field I hope to accomplish many things, but the most
important would have to be the recognition as a distinguished physical education professional.
My short-term goals at the moment would be to finish my undergraduate degree with a
respectable grade point average. In order to complete this goal I will need to dedicate myself to
the studying of my profession and the subjects that correspond with it. It will indeed be very
difficult to accomplish, but it is something that must be done.
Planning ahead is always something that I have done ever since I was a young boy, but
not to the extent that I do today. For my long-term goals I would hope that after my bachelor in
science degree is complete I could enter the Doctorates of Physical Therapy Program. To do this
I will of course need to complete my undergraduate degree and possibly shadow physical
therapists that are in the field already. With my short-term and long-term goals I am certain that I
will no doubt be able to become a respected professional in my field of interest.
What it really comes down to is learning your profession and striving to become the best
at it even though there are many challenges that come with it. Since the beginning of time
physical education has always been a very important issue, even though it wasnt recognized till
later years. The idea of spreading the importance of physical education, fitness, and sport should
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be in the mindset of all professionals in the field. Using the philosophies that I will develop over
my professional career I hope that I can one day influence others just like the professionals
before me.



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Works Cited
Siedentop, Daryl, and Hans van der Mars. Introduction to Physical Education, Fitness, & Sport.
Eighth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 18-33. Print.
Weston, Arthur. The Making of American Physical Education. New York, NY: Appleton-
Century-Crofts, 1962. 130-138. Print.