Had knee surgery and couldn't play basketball so decided it was time to put on some weight. Keep it natural. From 2007-2011, went from 170 lbs to 206 lbs. My freshman year in college was an eye opener for me when it comes to adversity, forcing me to look within for strength to get through one of the most difficult periods of my young life. A required knee surgery a month after I started college left me on crutches for two months. During my recuperation, a virus attacked my body and left me disabled, which included half of my face being paralyzed for over six months. This experience engendered in me a goal not to give up or give in to the disparity that was plaguing my body but instead to find an essential drive within to persevere. Bluntly put, I had to re-learn how to live, as I was compelled to rely on stores of stamina and mental fortitude of which I had been previously unaware that I possessed. The experience is not one I would care to repeat; yet it taught me a great deal about inner strength, discipline, and working towards a goal. In a harmonized effort, I strived to convalesce from injury sustained to both my health and academics and to utilize my onerous experience as a badge of honor and zeal rather than validation to become languid and meek.
This onerous experience bolsters my ardor for success. During my recovery phase, I worked closely with both my Neurologist and Immunologist to comprehend the illness that had impacted my life so dramatically. In addition, I diligently developed an exercise and diet regime that would aid me in overcoming the illness and abate future attacks if they should arise. Today I employ those experiences as an illustration to society of the importance of taking preemptive measures towards improving and preserving good health. Pledging to a consistent daily physical fitness regimen with health regime habits, while keeping abreast with scholarly developments in nutrition, healthy lifestyles, anatomy and disease prevention, I have become a paragon for good health and an advocate for lifestyle intervention for society as a means of health promotion and disease prevention. I want to exercise the fervor and unique perspective of life I attained form my experience to inspire others to strive towards their goal and NEVER GIVE UP!