"Growing up, I was always picked on for being the smallest and skinniest kid in school. I remember it being so bad that one summer I told myself if I didn't grow to at least five feet tall I would refuse to go back to school. Well, summer passed and I didn't make it to five foot but I did return to school. High school started out pretty hard for me. I was an easy target and I knew it so I secluded myself and tried to avoid anyone who might pick on me. Eventually, I realized that I was not going to be able to hide forever. So, I went to the gym.
Starting in the gym was awful, I could barely bench press the bar and I always felt like I was being judged for how weak I was. Thankfully I stuck to it and within a year not only had I grown a significant amount of muscle, I also grew a few inches taller. Lifting has taught me so much about challenging myself and has truly transformed my life from an insecure little kid to a confident man.“
