Summer Student Work: Cormac Walsh ’17 gives a lift to faculty and staff fitness

Here’s what it is like to spend the summer as a funded Purposeful Work intern for the college’s B Well at Bates fitness and wellness program.

Name: Cormac Walsh ’17

Hometown: Biddeford, Maine

Major: Biochemistry

Internship Sponsor: Purposeful Work Internship Program, newly created in 2015, that offers paid internships specifically designed to build students’ skills, develop their networks, and, afterward, help them reflect on what they’ve learned and how it relates to their future purposeful work.

1. How does this internship reflect what you know about the college’s Purposeful Work initiative?

My internship reflects my passion in health and strength training. When you have passion for what you do, you will find yourself constantly trying to improve. In my opinion this is the difference between true success and just getting by. This is what I believe the Purposeful Work initiative is all about.

My internship with the college’s B-Well program has allowed me to share my passion with the Bates community and hopefully make a positive impact in the health of those who I have worked with. I have gained specific knowledge and skills that will help me follow my passion and help me succeed in a field that I love.

2. How did you get into powerlifting?

When I was younger I was extremely overweight: I weighed more than 230 pounds when I was 12 years old.

Over the next two years I began losing weight and dedicated myself to a healthier lifestyle. I lost 100 pounds by the time I started high school.

Once I was at a healthy weight I realized that I wanted to get stronger and build muscle. I looked up Maine state powerlifting records online and began training to break one. It took over a year but I entered a powerlifting meet and succeeded in reaching my goal and breaking the record.

After that I was hooked and I have been competing in powerlifting ever since.

3. Where does your biochemistry major come in?

Biochemistry explains how the body works on a specific level. This ties into my internship because I am constantly helping people move better and more efficiently without pain, so that they can become healthier. Having an understanding of how the body works is essential for this.

4. What would you tell a younger student about the process of applying for a fellowship like this?

It is an exciting and rewarding experience if you really dedicate yourself to it and find an internship that fits your passions. Find a Purposeful Work internship that you feel will best reflect what you love doing.