Anthony Lopez

At the beginning of my senior year in high school, I was going through a low spot in life. I hated how I looked, and dreaded anytime I was asked for a picture. My hygienic habits had deteriorated, my sleep schedule was the worst it had ever been, and I felt trapped in a hole with no easy way out. I took a second to analyze myself, and knew the only way out was to put in effort. I immediately took the easy steps to pull myself together. I showered daily, began using a facial cleanser, and forced myself out of my room. The snowball of bettering my life was in full force, until it halted.

My appearance was still the same. I still felt discomfort when other people saw me, and I hated that. I knew I had to change, and so I began to work out. For a total of one week. While I have always done cardio, the process of building muscle is something I despise.

I searched for other ways to improve my appearance, and with inspiration from my sister, I explored the world of fashion. I worked at an outlet Levi’s store, and I used my job to improve how I dressed. Most importantly, I cared and put effort in. The process of not only enjoying how I was perceived, but also seeing the improvement as I put more effort into my clothing gave me the confidence I needed.

While I still hope to build muscle eventually, I find solace in the fact that I feel good about myself. Putting effort towards a goal can go a long way, and it's a message that I intend to carry with me for the rest of my life.