Last summer. That’s when my life changed.

For the past three years, I have grown increasingly interested in my personal health. Infrequent cardio sessions and notorious walks became staples of my sophomore and junior years. However, it was not until last May that I began to take my personal health more seriously.

After a long and arduous junior year, I was scrolling through my Instagram reels one day and stumbled upon the fabulous TikTok influencer Nara Smith. Watching her make homemade bagels from scratch inspired me. I set out on a quest to eat healthier, wanting to learn to cook from scratch. Eventually, this snowballed into a desire to start working out again, except more frequently this time.

Now, more than four months in, I could not be more grateful for the gym having become a part of my life. Nearly every day, anywhere from 7 to 10 p.m., I am there. 

My workouts have become a ritual: one day a week is devoted to an hour on the elliptical and the rest of the days, I do 15-25 minutes of cardio depending on the quality of my last workout, with remaining time spent on strength training. 

It is strenuous and, at times, exhausting, but I have grown to love this home away from home. No matter how tired I am, I haul myself into my big red Jeep Cherokee, drive five minutes down the road, park my car, head into the gym and put my things in the same locker each time. 

The moment I started going to the gym, I saw a difference in my mindset. The gym give me discipline and self-confidence. It taught me to value myself and the importance of pushing myself, especially when it feels like I cannot go on. 

To me, it is not about having sculpted muscles or the perfect beach body, but the focus and persistence it takes to continue showing up day in and day out, working to achieve something better. 

For that, I am forever grateful.

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