Growing up, Zach Walker was always on the move. While attending Woodward (Okla.) High School, he was involved in baseball and jiu-jitsu. An active youth with a love for fitness, he knew early on that his passion was rooted in health and wellness.
“Attending college after high school was never really on my radar,” Walker said. “I grew up poor and wanted to start making money to support myself.”
Despite these feelings he decided to give Northern Oklahoma College a shot.
He began his academic journey in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. After three weeks of virtual classes, he started to question if college was the right path for him.
“I just wasn’t sure it was for me at the time,” Walker said.
He made the difficult decision to step away and began working as the sales director at a local State Farm agency in Stillwater, Okla. For three years Walker focused on building professional experience, but deep down he knew he wanted more.
Taking a leap of faith, he enrolled at Northwestern, where his then-girlfriend, now-fiancée, plays softball.
“The first few months were a true struggle and I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into,” Walker admitted. “Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I’m the happiest I have ever been.”
Since transferring, Walker has made Northwestern his home. He serves as the head strength and conditioning coach for the baseball team, is the president of Northwestern’s Business Club and works as a student assistant, and teaches kickboxing classes at Northwestern’s J.R. Holder Wellness Center.
After graduation, Walker hopes to open a gym dedicated to providing fitness training, performance coaching, and nutrition guidance to underprivileged teens.
“If I would have had a place like that to go to when I was a young teen, I think the trajectory of my life would have changed sooner,” said Walker. “It’s important that teens, particularly those who are underprivileged, have a safe space to learn and grow.”
From growing up underprivileged and thinking that college was out of reach for financial reasons, he now is attending Northwestern fully on scholarships.
“I am grateful for the scholarships I have received. I would have never been able to afford school without the financial assistance.”
What he once thought was a big mistake has turned into a blessing in disguise.
“Looking back, I’m not entirely sure how everything fell into place. I finally feel a sense of intention and excitement for the next chapter of my life.”