“The fear of being worse than my previous self keeps me on edge to do better,” Kevin Kozlik, a first-year student at the College of DuPage (COD) said. “Because this world is selfish and cruel. Being the best version of myself mentally and physically will yield better results than not trying.”
Everybody has their reasons for going to the gym. Behind every gymgoer, there’s a unique story behind exactly why they’re at the gym.
Kozlik has been going to the gym for nine months, and anyone observing him throughout that time has noticed that he has been overwhelmingly friendly to every person at the gym.
“The small interactions go a long way, especially in an environment where it feels intimidating,” Kozlik said. “I also prefer to be kinder in that regard because it’s a choice to be happy. It’s a choice to lift others up, because you never know if somebody is going through something.”
Making progress in the gym and in life in general is never optimally done alone. For Kozlik, he credits his girlfriend for helping him along the way.
“She has helped me stay above water, not just in the gym but as to who I am as an individual,” Kozlik said.
Ultimately, we’re all just trying our best to be better than the person we were yesterday. That path is never linear, and it’s a constant rollercoaster that never gets any easier.
“It’s a struggle every day to go to the gym—to mentally push myself until I can’t do more—and repeating that every day,” Kozlik said. “It is absolutely difficult, but the fear of staying the same is worse than the fear of the future and the growth that comes with it.”
Alayla Kidd, a second-year business student and Student Life employee, has been going to the gym since her sophomore year of high school. Between taking a full class load here at COD and working two different jobs, Kidd still makes a point of being active.
“I am often an early morning lifter to accommodate my busy schedule, but as long as sleep is prioritized, gains will be made,” Kidd said.
Kidd leans on fitness to help manage the stress that comes with living such a busy lifestyle.
“Staying physically active is important for me because I always want to look good and feel healthy. I feel better about myself, and leading a healthier life routine brings on just as much happiness [as] some people may supplement with other activities that the gym gives me,” Kidd said.
Not many can say they’ve kept up a healthy lifestyle since high school.
“My primary motivation for going to the gym is overall health. I have been lifting since high school. I just kept the habit because it is good for skeletal health, cardiovascular health and [it] makes me feel good,” Kidd said.
Staying consistent isn’t easy for most, but for Kidd, her fitness journey has been relatively smooth sailing since she started going to the gym back in high school.
“There [have] been no struggles in my fitness journey besides being short on sleep occasionally,” Kidd said. “I stay consistent by tracking calories, lifts and visual progress. I have strength, weight and physique goals I want to reach and keep. When I think about making progress, [it]makes me want to stay even more consistent.”
Seeing what her personal fitness journey has done for her has inspired her to help her peers with their fitness journeys. She has gone so far as to make personalized routines for her coworkers and friends.
“It means a lot to me to help others who are newer to weight training because I had a great lifting coach when I ran track,” Kidd said. “I just want to be the person who can help others who either want to get their physique in better shape or just improve their overall health.”
