Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2017, Page 23

Description:	RAISING THE BAR HEALTH/PEstory by: Emma AlexanderYou first hear the heavyblaring music as you walk downthe stairs. Then you hear theringing of weights dropping tothe floor. When you pass,grunting and enthusiasm eruptsfrom the doors.It cant get much moreintense than the weight room atNorth. Students grow strongerevery day as they reach theirgoals. Weightlifting also liftsthe bar in other ways: Studentsself-esteem and personal bodyimage are markedly improved.Teenagers feel stronger bothmentally and physically.Before his junior year,senior Hunter Figg was one ofthe smallest of kids his age.All of my friends werebigger than me and taller,Hunter said. They would give me crap about it because I was smaller.Whether you are smaller or larger than the average teenager, feeling like an outsider can have a major impact on akids self-esteem.I felt insecure about myself so I started lifting and started getting bigger, Hunter said. At first it was really scarybecause everyone was bigger than me and everybody looked down on me. But after a semester I got bigger and peoplestarted to not judge as much. Now I weigh around 135 pounds. Ive gained about 20 pounds or so of muscle.Weightlifting as well as overcoming his struggle with self-confidence has inspired Hunter into possibly becoming apersonal trainer in the future. I just want to help other people see the good in themselves by getting healthier, he said.Im not insecure anymore, and that feels good.Lifting weights makes someone physically more fit, of course, but mentally, it can have a significant impact on teenconfidence and self-esteem, much like it did for Figg.Junior Eizlee Nixonhits the tennis ballback to hisopponents. Afterthe first year,[raquet sports]became more thanan elective, Nixonsaid. It got meinvolved in sports I\| thought Id never beable to play.r^HLifting thedumbbell, juniorTrey Wilson hopesto strengthen hisoverall physique sohe can lift heavierboxes for his momat home.photos by: Marlee Wilson23
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/8373
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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