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Matthew Hovorka

"The Gym"
The Essay, Ms. Therese Jones

The thunderous sound of music playing in the background conjoined with loud clangs, and sweaty individuals all crammed together might sound like an unpleasant experience to most. The place I am describing might bring forth different pictures for each of you. For some, it might be a loud concert, or maybe a party of some kind. However, the place I am describing is the setting where I spent most of my evenings, the gym. To most, the gym is just another pastime; however, for me weight lifting has been a part of my life for over a decade. Going to the gym has made a major impact on me, and is my main passion in life.

I can still feel the sticky, damp atmosphere as my father dragged my sister and me into our local Charter Fitness in Lockport. As we entered, I still remember seeing the moisture fogging up the windows. We were young, twelve years of age, with no real passion or desire to be active. My father insisted on taking us and teaching us his own little weight training routine. However, my sister and I would play around with the equipment, even almost breaking some, and not take any advice seriously. Instead, we spent our time causing a ruckus and damaging some equipment because we wanted to fool around. And although we would eventually stop going to the gym all together for a few years, I believe my father taking me at a young age sowed the seeds of interest for what would eventually become my main passion in life.

My overall interest in being physically fit did not occur until several years later when I was sixteen years old as a junior in high school. It had just turned winter, and the football season had ended, which meant morning conditioning and after-school weight training were on the horizon. This was nothing new for me because I had been performing this routine for three years already. However, that year was different. I remember stepping on the scale after one of our afternoon workouts, startled by the number that jumped out at me. “316” was the number I saw. I have always been a heavier guy, but this number set a fire in me. I felt gross in my skin and decided I needed to turn my life around. Soon, not only was I attending after-school football lifting but also going to the gym regularly and making small lifestyle changes.

I can confidently say that my passion for the gym started from a desire to get healthy. I pulled up to the old Charter Fitness that my father dragged me to so many years before; however, this time of my own free will. The same smell of sweat and humidity struck me as soon as I entered. Wearing my oversized sweatshirt and baggy shorts, I walked over to the treadmill section, climbed on, and began my new passion. Each day followed the same structure. First, I would attempt to run on the treadmill for as long as I could; however, at first, I could not run more than 2 minutes without stopping. Gradually, as months passed, I was able to run miles and found running to be quite enjoyable. Many call it a “runner's high.” I would have this feeling as if I were on top of the world and nothing can stop me. It was addicting. I would grunt and yell at the end of my runs as I sprinted the last lap on that treadmill. My arms would flail, and I soaked the equipment and clothes I was wearing with sweat. But it was all worth it in the end. I would sigh a breath of relief as I finished, but that was only the beginning of my workout. After gathering enough strength, I would haul my way over to the weight room, looking forward to the subsequent torture I would put myself through. Each day typically followed the same weight lifting routine. I just loved the feeling of tense muscles and pure exhaustion I would get from weight training. At this point in my life, I was purely motivated by that number on the scale, going down, looking, and feeling better. In March of my senior year of high school, I saw the scale at the lowest I have ever seen over a year after I started. It read 203. The motivation to lose weight and change my life for the better significantly impacted weight training becoming my main passion in life.

At the age of eighteen, I joined the Marine Corps and quickly lived overseas in Japan within that same year. For the first time in my life, I was alone with nothing but myself and my favorite passion. I roamed the empty base hoping to find some form of life, eventually stumbling upon a sign attached to an enormous building. The words “House of Pain” stared back at me. I knew instantly that this would become my new home. And it did for two years. As the clock struck 1600 every day, I dashed home from work, quickly changed, and walked over to my favorite place. As I entered through the back door, I would see my friends, Jay and Alex, standing on the deadlift platform already lifting without me. Each day we trained together, and it was what I looked forward to the most. Each night, the phrase “Get it Up” often echoed throughout the gym as they cheered me on attempting a new personal record. My face beat red, adrenaline and excitement rushing through my body, created this want and desire to lift more and more weight. This is where I fell in love with weight training. Hovorka 4 After what seemed like two short years, I was transferred to North Carolina for work. Once again, I found myself alone in what felt like a foreign land. I found two friends from work, Scott and Nyl, who took me to a nearby gym in a short time. It was built in an old warehouse. As soon as the doors open, you can hear the deafening roar of heavy rock blasted over the speakers, combined with the North Carolina humidity; it made for the perfect environment. It was love at first sight. This gym had all the equipment I could ask for. Every time I went to work out, it was as if a five-year-old was released into a playground. I ran around and discovered new movements, workouts, and equipment, leading to other love and passion. However, what made this gym so unique was the community. Despite the thunderous atmosphere upon entering, we were always greeted with warm smiles. My sister would come to visit on several occasions and the gym community welcomed her with open arms, even giving her free gym shirts. A closely knitted gym community conjoined with passion for what you are doing is what makes the gym so appealing to me. Unfortunately, after spending one year in North Carolina, I moved back to Illinois to start a new path. Figure 2: Titan Up Athletics in New Bern, North Carolina. Today, I am currently enrolled in school to study my passion, exercise science, and further my knowledge in that field. Throughout my entire life, the gym has always been a constant passion wherever I am. Whether I am overseas or here at home, the gym has provided me with comfort and a sense of normalcy. Going to the gym is my main passion in life and will continue to impact my life for the better.

At the age of eighteen, I joined the Marine Corps and quickly lived overseas in Japan within that same year. For the first time in my life, I was alone with nothing but myself and my favorite passion. I roamed the empty base hoping to find some form of life, eventually stumbling upon a sign attached to an enormous building. The words “House of Pain” stared back at me. I knew instantly that this would become my new home. And it did for two years. As the clock struck 1600 every day, I dashed home from work, quickly changed, and walked over to my favorite place. As I entered through the back door, I would see my friends, Jay and Alex, standing on the deadlift platform already lifting without me. Each day we trained together, and it was what I looked forward to the most. Each night, the phrase “Get it Up” often echoed throughout the gym as they cheered me on attempting a new personal record. My face beat red, adrenaline and excitement rushed through my body, creating this want and desire to lift more and more weight. This is where I fell in love with weight training.

After what seemed like two short years, I was transferred to North Carolina for work. Once again, I found myself alone in what felt like a foreign land. I found two friends from work, Scott and Nyl, who took me to a nearby gym in a short time. It was built in an old warehouse. As soon as the doors open, you can hear the deafening roar of heavy rock blasted over the speakers, combined with the North Carolina humidity; it made for the perfect environment. It was love at first sight. This gym had all the equipment I could ask for. Every time I went to work out, it was as if a five-year-old was released into a playground. I ran around and discovered new movements, workouts, and equipment, leading to other love and passion. However, what made this gym so unique was the community. Despite the thunderous atmosphere upon entering, we were always greeted with warm smiles. My sister would come to visit on several occasions and the gym community welcomed her with open arms, even giving her free gym shirts. A closely knitted gym community conjoined with passion for what you are doing is what makes the gym so appealing to me. Unfortunately, after spending one year in North Carolina, I moved back to Illinois to start a new path.

Today, I am currently enrolled in school to study my passion, exercise science, and further my knowledge in that field. Throughout my entire life, the gym has always been a constant passion wherever I am. Whether I am overseas or here at home, the gym has provided me with comfort and a sense of normalcy. Going to the gym is my main passion in life and will continue to impact my life for the better.