I received this email yesterday and thought it was truly special.  Over the course of the week I get a lot of emails from readers asking questions, wanting to connect, or asking for advice.  I encourage you to message me with any inquires at [email protected].  I read all my emails and will respond as quick as possible.  I wanted to share this one because this guy is truly special.

Hey there,

My name is Josh H. I am an 18 year old recent high school graduate and have been reading the PTDC for quite some time. First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the success of your new website and I am anxiously anticipating the release of your book. Second, through competitive athletics, my own training, extensive self study and a hunger for knowledge that cannot be satisfied, I have developed a true passion for the strength and personal training profession. This passion extends into nutrition and the psychological aspects that are equally important.

I have drawn influence from a wide range of sources an coaches like yourself, Eric Cressey, John Romaniello, Mike Boyle, Jason Feruggia, Tony Gentilcore and a plethora of others. Thank you for providing truly valuable content that has aided in keeping me focused on quality information.

I possess determination, organization, interpersonal skills, passion and a true desire to soak up what professionals before me have established and develop a philosophy of my own. My situation is unique. I graduated high school here in British Columbia this past summer and have decided to take the beginnings of my educational journey into my own hands. Through self reflection and influence from many sources, my philosophy has fallen upon the same level that Eric Cressey expresses in this blog post: http://www.ericcressey.com/want-to-be-a-personal-trainer-or-strength-coach-start-here. Thus far, I have been religiously reviewing multiple online resources, purchasing books and DVD's (Waiting for my copy of Peak Diet and Fitness Summit, very exciting) reviewing products and pouring my soul into self study. The topics are healthfully spread across Training, Business and developing a solid knowledge base in anatomy, biomechanics and kinesiology. Not only do I devour education, I also practice everything I research to discover their inner workings. I do not intend to bore you with my story, I simply want to convey my determination and willingness to do whatever it takes to have the opportunity to learn from the best there is.

I realize that making the choice to forgo a four year degree in exercise science could prove to be a more challenging path, and I do not disregard the traditional educational institutions. However, I believe that I possess the maturity and discipline needed to succeed. The things I can accomplish and experience during the four years I would conversely be spending sitting in a classroom are immense. Eric Cressey even stated, "If I was 18 today, I'd save all that money , get an internship, and spend the cash on loads of books/DVDs - and taking selective courses (gross anatomy, kinesiology and biomechanics)."

Currently, I am working the desk at a gym in my home town of Courtenay, Vancouver Island. Like you, I have started with obtaining my PTS certification from CanFitPro. I did this mainly to gain further knowledge and attend the conference in Vancouver this past weekend to network. At the conference, I leveraged my position and managed to gain the opportunity to have a one-on-one dinner with Todd Durkin in downtown Vancouver. This was an extremely valuable connection and he reinforced my decision to continue on my current educational path.

I am looking for a valuable opportunity to travel and contribute to a valuable internship or mentorship, wherever that may lead me. I have worked extremely hard to set my self up financially to be able to do this. My question to you is if you would be interested in discussing the possibility of me traveling to learn and practice under you. If this is out of the question, I would like to ask if you could recommend quality internship programs that you know of.

The world is my oyster, and I want to take advantage of every global opportunity available to me so that I may work toward mastering my craft in order to change the lives of others. Any advice or insight that you may have to offer is greatly appreciated.

I want to thank you for reading my email, as I know you are a very busy man. Know that every effort you have put into your content and education has greatly influenced me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Josh H.