Nakita Heeb says finishing school early should not define you. Photo: Supplied.
A Leeton personal fitness trainer who graduated from university this year wants to encourage other early school leavers to be ambitious and achieve their goals.
Nakita Heeb, 32, spent her teens in foster care after her mum died. She dropped out of school after Year 10. After stints in retail and hospitality, she worked full-time at global food business SunRice while studying fitness. She eventually opened her own gym Solid Strength Studio and now runs a thriving business.
After completing her bachelor’s degree in exercise science as a mature-age student, she is now taking on a Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology remotely through Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst campus.
Region caught up with Ms Heeb to find out about her journey and what others can learn from her.
Having taken an unconventional path to career success, what advice do you have for those struggling at school?
Back yourself and believe in yourself. Don’t stress about the system. We have this perceived outlook on life – we need to finish Year 12, get high marks, go to university, get married and have kids.
But I believe everyone has their own journey. Some people will have their own detours on the way, but will eventually get to their goal. You may not go to university after school, but that doesn’t make you any less of a person and it doesn’t mean you won’t get to where you need to be.
Nakita trains Miss World contestant and electrician Katelyn Mills. Photo: Supplied.
Why didn’t you go to university straight after school?
My mum died when I was in Year 7, so school wasn’t the greatest time for me. I struggled with grief and never thought I was smart enough to go to university.
I’m more of a hands-on sort of person. I wasn’t dumb, but the school environment wasn’t for me. I know lots of kids like that; school is not for them, but they can thrive if placed in the right environment.
There’s a famous quote by Albert Einstein: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
What inspired you to eventually get a degree?
One of my clients who became one of my closest friends, Michelle Del Guzzo, encouraged me to go to university. It was helpful to have that supportive push.
I’ve always exercised a lot because I enjoyed it, but I noticed how much the gym did for my mental health. I felt I could teach others what I learnt and make a career out of something I love.
What’s involved in your role as a personal trainer?
I run a gym that operates by appointment only. I work one-on-one with clients, tailoring classes to their needs. I have clients that are aged from 13 to 90.
What do you do with the 90-year-old?
I work on balance, mobility and strength. It’s also a good social interaction for them.
Weight training with Katelyn Mills. Photo: Supplied.
What do you say to those who struggle to find time to exercise?
We all have time – it’s about what we choose to prioritise.
People say they have no time to exercise, but they might spend half an hour scrolling on their phone after dinner, which offers no positive carryover to their goals and where they want to be.
Devices and distractions, like social media, have a big role to play in our lack of physical activity which is a major modifiable risk factor for several chronic health diseases.
Why did you need to go to university if you’d already set up a successful business?
I wanted to broaden my scope of practice. I love learning; there’s so much to learn about the human body. I wanted to be as knowledgeable as possible to provide the best possible service for my clients.
Do you plan to stay in Leeton?
Definitely. My heart lies in supporting regional and remote areas where healthy inequities exist. We have a much harder time accessing health services and I want to provide as much as I can to this community with respect to exercise services.
