I have participated in (2) USAPL Meets. In my first USAPL meet, I finished 2nd place in my weight class and was able to take home a silver medal.
CrossFit Level 1 Certification & Certified Personal Trainer
I am 35 years old and have had a plethora of jobs. From roofing houses to corporate America, I never felt like I was fulfilling my purpose in life. During my personal fitness journey, I decided to go to the personal training school to better understand fitness for myself - not with the intention of actually being a personal trainer. While in school, our class went to a place called Project Lift to learn about Olympic Weightlifting. That was the first time I ever saw and touched a barbell and it lit my soul on fire. I wanted everyone I knew to feel how awesome it felt to lift that bar! Upon graduation in June 2018, I trained clients one-on-one and taught some group fitness classes at Champaign Family YMCA. in August 2019, I joined Long Road CrossFit as a member to advance my physical fitness and immediately wanted to be a part of the team. In December 2019, I obtained my L1 and started coaching CrossFit classes at Long Road in January 2020. Being a part of a community that emphasizes its core values, not just in the gym, but in everyday life, made me want to do the same. My biggest achievement is my children. They remind me of what is important in life. The highlights of my life are watching them do the things that also light their souls on fire.
Growing up, I had a pretty normal life. Although I was pretty self-conscious and shy, I was still involved in multiple sports and had a great family and friends. It wasn't until adulthood that I faced remarkable trauma. As a result, I struggled with depression and dealt with it in very unhealthy ways for many years. My turning point was when I signed up for my first powerlifting meet. I was already working with a personal trainer and he told me to start looking at some powerlifting meets that I might be interested in participating in. I picked one out, trained for 12 weeks, and in September 2019, I competed in my first USAPL Powerlifting Meet. During that training, I was going through a divorce. It would have been easy for me to throw in the towel and revert back to my unhealthy coping mechanisms, but I chose differently this time. Feeling angry, sad, and confused about my life's circumstances, I made the conscious choice to put all of that emotion and energy into the barbell. It required discipline, patience, and fortitude. I learned that the barbell holds opportunities full of purposefulness, commitment, and determination, something I would have never learned if I had chosen otherwise. "Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.”
I love to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. Serving the youth is deepest in my heart. I feel that our youth are drawn to leaders who make them feel like they belong, make them feel special, and make them feel safe. My purpose is to be that leader for them, to provide that outlet for them, and to inspire them to be the best possible version of themselves.
