Dublin graduate Linda Volleman has always loved helping others. “I just want to help and make a difference and build relationships,” she said. “It fills my cup when I foster those relationships. That, to me, is the most important thing.”
Volleman graduated from Dublin High School in 2009, and went to Tarleton to study education. “I always wanted to work with people, and I really love kids,” she said. “I worked with kids through high school and I nannied, so teaching just felt like the right path.”
When she graduated with her bachelor’s, she started teaching kindergarten in Joshua, Texas. “As I was teaching, something still didn’t quite feel right,” she said.
Volleman began envisioning a career change; she’d always been passionate about health and fitness, and she loved the gym she went to, Intensity Training Systems, in the Crowley area. “I just fell in love with the atmosphere and their mission,” she said. “I ended up thinking, what if I continued that journey of teaching but [instead of children], teaching adults to again live healthier, longer lives?”
Volleman completed the necessary training and was hired at Intensity Training Systems as a trainer. “I’m still a teacher at heart,” she said. “I just get to work with adults now, in a different medium.”
Volleman coaches several group classes each week. Her schedule varies depending on the day, but she has plenty of time off.
“It’s nice coming from teaching, because [as a teacher] I was at work all day every day, weekends, working super late,” she said. “That was part of the reason I got out of teaching. I didn’t feel like I could do the job to the standard I wanted to do it at and have a personal life.”
Volleman’s classes range from metabolic classes to strength training. “We help people develop healthy skills and habits to live healthier lives,” she said. “So whether that’s weight loss or more balanced diets or putting on muscle or bringing their blood work to better numbers, we can help them just build better skills for that.”
Her favorite part of the job is the people she works with. “I love building relationships and trust and seeing people feel more confident in themselves,” she said.
Volleman’s clients often come in hoping to lose weight. “I really make it my mission to teach people that exercise is more than that,” she said. “There’s so many other benefits to fitness and health and just so many other things we bring to the world. I try to interweave that in my coaching every day.”
Volleman plans to continue working at the gym and living near DFW. “I like this area and I love this gym,” she said. “It’s a pretty unique place and it’s hard to find something like it. So I don’t see any changes in the future in my career.”
When she’s not working, Volleman loves to be outside. “I love the sunshine and nature, and I love moving, whether that’s going on a walk or bike ride or hike. That’s really my favorite way to spend my time.”
Volleman is currently engaged to her high school sweetheart, Jesse Medina, and they’re getting married in October. She and Medina live outside Fort Worth with their 14-year-old, three-legged dog, Halo.
Voelleman’s father passed away last year from cancer, and her mother lives nearby. She and her siblings still visit Dublin often to spend time together.
Volleman’s advice to future Dublin graduates is to slow down and enjoy their time in Dublin, but not be afraid to venture out.
“I had a lot of fun in high school, but that last year, I was chomping at the bit to get out,” she said. “Sometimes I wish I would have taken in a little bit more of that last year instead of already having one foot out the door.”
Once she did leave Dublin, she was glad to experience the wider world. “I think it’s good to push yourself, especially if you’re someone who’s been in town your whole life,” she said. “It’s a good experience to get out and to see new places, meet new people, be introduced to new ideas and ways of thinking. Even if you don’t agree, it expands your mind and opens you up to new possibilities. So push yourself outside of your comfort zone a little bit. Follow the things that interest you, and don’t be afraid to go to some new places and open yourself up to new opportunities.”
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.