Personal Narrative: My Muscular Strength

Muscular endurance is being able to work a muscle or muscle group for a long period of time at less than maximum effort, (Amezdrox, G. Dickens, S, Hosford, G. and Davis, D. 2012). Muscular endurance was tested by completing a sit up and push up test. My rating for the sit up test were super and for the push up test my rating was excellent, (see appendix 1). These tests were chosen instead of others because if you have a strong core whilst playing touch football, it is seen that you can perform better and this is what these tests work on, (Touch Football Australia, 2013).

It all started on June 2014, I was uncomfortable in my own skin. I was underweight and was always out of breath. I ran like a turtle. At that time, I weighed only 115 pounds. I wanted to make a change for the better, wanting a better lifestyle. So I decided to sign up for the gym. That day changed my life forever. The gym made me fit, healthier, but most importantly it made me a better person which is who I am today.

Even before I walk into the gym, I can hear grunting and weights slamming against the floor. As I walk over to the bench, in the air there is the smell of hard work, a combination of iron and sweat. The bench is covered with a layer of blue padding with slight tears starting to form from the constant use. I lie atop the bench and put my hands up and grip the barbell. Unracking the weight, the rough knurling begins digging into my hands, making my callouses even thicker. Drawing in a deep breath, I slowly lower my elbows and as the barbell follows, my chest begins to stretch out. Then, in one moment, tightening my triceps, shoulders, and chest, I press up the barbell as I blow out a constant stream of air while flexing my abs as hard as I can. I have become lost. Lost in the weights. I am no longer thinking about school, my problems, or emotions. I am completely focused on lifting the weight.

As I looked at the barbell stacked with two 45 lbs plates on both sides, I questioned my own ability, and think to myself there is no way in hell I am able to lift this without injuring myself.

At my teenage age I wish I had a trainer like these guys in the video, I would have become a retired heavy weight champion of the world. That didn’t happen during my time, but for these guys here in the video I am sure they will get there. Seeing their moves indicates they are serious and ready to do the damages to their adversaries. I salute you guys and keep it

A talent that I use is probably my athletic ability. I have ran track and threw for field, played hockey, baseball, basketball, wrestling, and my favorite sport football. I stopped playing almost all of my other sports throughout my years of high school just because I wanted to be the best I could be for football. I love football so much because I get to use my athletic ability, which allows me to be a very versatile player. I have played every position on defense, tight end, running back, wide receiver and quarterback. I started at quarterback my first three games but then this kid moved in, and he could throw better than me. At first I thought this was a bad thing, but soon enough I found out this was a great thing, because it changed my life. My coach came up to me and told me that he was going to put me at half-back because with my athletic ability it would be

I actively participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Both seeing a need and having an interest, I along with some other girls founded our school’s first Athletic Training Program during my freshman year. In the program, we educate students on common injuries seen in high school sports. As the head trainer for our school’s swim team and girl’s track team, I attend to athletes’ sore muscles, apply wraps, and provide assistance to our new trainers (2015-2018). I’m also a leader within my school’s division of Future Health Professionals of America(HOSA), helping to energize the students preparing for healthcare jobs in the future. I became one of the founding members of Stem Moms in 2014, a program that educates students about

There are several reasons why I am athletic. The ways I am athletic and stay athletic is through training and playing football, basketball, and baseball. First off, I train to get into shape. I do push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and many other exercises like that. Also, I practice all the different sports and do different workouts to get better. The first sport that comes around is football. I play quarterback and linebacker and have been very successful. The past two years the teams I have been on haven’t lost a game! Next, is basketball, and it is my favorite sport. I have played it for all my life and still play it today. I play point guard and I like to shoot. During my basketball years, I have made many buzzer-beaters and

To become an athletic trainer, one must complete courses such as Human Anatomy and Physiology as well as other courses that pertain to this major. These classes will help in learning how the body functions. I will also have to pass the Board of Certification exam and must be CAATE certified I could also volunteer at sporting events to get to know the environment around the players, coaches, and spectators from a non-athlete point of view. This could prove helpful because an athletic trainer will constantly be around sporting events and usually close to spectators, coaches, and players alike.

I’ve taken strength-based surveys before and I am always fascinated with what they allow me to learn about myself. Rarely have I’ve taken a strength-based where I didn’t learn something new about myself. There was a point in my life where I had wished I paid more attention to what the information told me; if I had paid attention my school career would’ve gone a completely different route. I eventuality got to the point where I feel like I was on the right path, there was just added bumps in the road that I learned from. This was the first time where I’ve taken a strength-based survey that listed my strengths out the way it does. It was interesting to read each character strength and see how it really relates in my life.

“Are you OK Logan?” It was my Gymnastics coach. I was lying on a mat with feet and face all covered in blood, the only word I could manage to say was ouch.

Growing up an athlete I had always been in above average shape. I was a healthy weight with toned muscles but, like most teenagers, I was eating garbage. I loved cheeseburgers and ice-cream and everything in between. For years I was telling myself this diet was ok due to the fact that I worked out. It wasn't until my sophomore year when I stated wondering how great I could be if I ate correctly. I decided to get a food tracker app and count calories. I was going to stick to a strict eating plan making sure I was only eating 1200 calories a day and eliminating snacking all together.

Growing up, I was surrounded by the constant whirlwind of athletics. I rushed between softball games, swim meets, dance recitals, soccer games, and gymnastics performances. When I realized I couldn’t participate in all of these at once, I decided to focus on swimming, and for the next 10 years, spent 30+ hours a week in the water. As my team and I continued to grow, and train, so did our bodies. We endured pulled muscles, torn meniscuses, sprained ankles, and countless labrum tears. It wasn’t just them that suffered, but also their performance in the water.

“...the strong are the former-weak. They are the ones who persisted when faced with challenge and it is through their struggle that they developed their strength, for they are the ones that continued past the point where many would conceive it to be a respectable amount of effort...Embrace the pain, for without pain, without struggle, without failure there can be no growth, improvement, success, or triumph.” (Francine Henderson) On a warm summer day at a state leadership conference, I met Frankie. At first, we were cordial acquaintances but within days, we connected at an intellectual, spiritual, and emotional level that I had previously never experienced. The mutualistic relationship was founded through a shared love for philosophical, intellectual,

Do you have a particular hobby or activity you enjoy? Ventures outside school or work can be very relaxing, for me it's entirely different. I have gained many mental as well as physical skills such as strength, endurance, and motivation Because of CrossFit. I have learned various new things about the human body and have met many different types of people. Walking into that CrossFit gym is one of the best things that has ever happened to me, if I had not stepped in that gym, I would not be the same person I am today.