Student Highlight: Leah DiGiorgio
Photo by J. Jeffreys
My name is Leah DiGiorgio, and I am currently enrolled in the Exercise Science program at Sussex County Community College, with Professor Lionetti! I graduated last semester with my associates degree in Pre-Nutrition/Dietetics, and I am continuing my studies with an additional degree in Exercise Science.
The Exercise Science department has helped me immensely with understanding my goals and future, and especially the steps needed to get there. Every instructor and staff member involved in the department has an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise in their field, with experience ranging from prior physical therapy practices to involvement in pharmaceutical work. They have helped me understand my passions and dreams, and supported me by encouraging me to chase opportunities and to try new things.
I am also the president of the SCCC Public Health Club with Professors Lionetti and Winters, which is focused on providing resources and experiences for members interested in careers such as physical therapy, medical school, etc. We have hosted events such as CPR/AED certification, a bake sale fundraiser, guest speaker events, and member presentations.
Meetings are held every Monday at 4 PM!
Photo by J. Jeffreys
With my education from the Exercise Science program and the Pre-Nutrition program, my long-term goal is to become a Registered Dietitian. The nutrition classes I took at SCCC helped me realize that nutrition and helping people understand food were my true passions, and being able to find a Dietetics program at a community college was a fantastic surprise.
Short-term, I would love to be a group fitness instructor with the associate degree and Personal Trainer certification I gained this past year.
Working in the school gym, human performance lab, as well as in the group fitness class offered at SCCC, helped me realize the specific type of trainer I wanted to be by putting me in scenarios I wouldn’t have ever been in.
Classes such as exercise physiology and fitness assessment put me in hands-on scenarios where I could decide whether I wanted to sit back and watch, or take charge and lead the group through an activity.
Having Professor Lionetti as an advisor as well as an instructor allowed me to work closely and consistently with someone who had my best interests in mind and pushed me in the classroom when I needed it. The close-knit nature of the Exercise Science program and the increasing resources within it have allowed me to craft my own personalized college experience and forge new paths to support my peers.
