To persevere is “to continue in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement”, according to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. This word describes and personifies my present life and the previous 29 years. Life sometimes throws these obstacles at anybody in their life. Problems like these can make a person quit or one can transcend these obstacles. Bodybuilding and lifting weights can relieve stress and refocus your outlook on life itself. Lifting for me began in high school around the age of 15 years and now it is like a vice for me that I crave to make the day complete. I am entering the field of Physical Education and plan on helping the youths of today refocus the school, for the necessity of Physical Education, not as an elective as some of the schools have already done. I know that lifting weights takes a lot of work but physical activity and physical fitness are major parts missing in today's educational system. It helps them with structure, discipline and perseverance that are lacking in today's youth with their sedentary lives. My mother has been an inspiration to my two brothers and me and she has taught her three children the meaning of perseverance. She has been a tremendous support on anything the three of us have attempted to accomplish. She never discouraged us, but never overpushed the limits like some parents that are driven to live their lives through their children. She worked very hard at anything she did and showed the world that she could raise 3 children on her own with limited funds. Her hard work and fight inside of her to survive has been since passed on to her children. My mother passed away just over three years ago in a car accident and has raised 3 very responsible and hard working children to carry on her legacy. My brother Victor is handicapped but with my mother's help succeeded in life and started up the Physical Education program at his special education school. He has since gone on to compete in powerlifting, track and field on a state and national level, walking away year after year with gold medals. The school also helped Victor secure a full time job at Ethicon for the past 12 years. Victor is an inspiration and makes my goals look very attainable.

My mother's years of hard work only makes me work harder as a person. My weeks are very full and I continue to feel good about my job, continuing education, and how I help others. I train my brother Victor for Special Olympics Powerlifting (9-10 hours per week); train myself 5 times per week (10-12 hours per week) at 5:30am every morning with some help from my new workout partner Monica. I personal train at off-hours and total 55-60 hours per week at the gym I work. My schedule is very busy and I am very happy with it. I love challenges and always will try to put myself up to them. Cardio and diet are 2 areas that become a major challenge, yet they must be done to succeed. I only want the best presentation possible at the show along with that first place finish. All of these work ethics and challenges I take on are all dedicated to my mother and they reflect her spirit that remains with me on earth.

I recently started training with a new workout partner, Monica. She listens to me and does the same workout as I do, except for the lighter weights. She works very hard to attain her own personal goals. We get up at 445am so I can train clients afterward and Monica can go to work. Some might see her as obsessed, but I see her work and she inspires me to work hard each and every workout. Her diet is just as strict and that personifies the great ones who show will power and persistence. She has dealt with me form the onset of my diet and that right there is enough to send people running. People like Monica are like finding a needle in a haystack. Her beauty and smile help keep me going when I feel like I cannot do another repetition. She is a partner that someone could want for a lifetime. Training partners are hard to find and easy to lose, but when one comes along like this, you need to hold on and never let go.

All of the above mentioned factors helped me in my preparation for the show and I am grateful. Competition is my own way of striving for that goal. I love the challenge and love to succeed. Competition teaches you discipline and structure in a world that lacks these qualities in today's youth. One should try to attain that ultimate goal of attempting college and shooting for that Dean's list not just a 2.5 grade point average. One should strive for the college diploma and honors as well. This not only shows your intelligence, but hard work that was put into each class that was taken over your time spent in college. Competition benefits everyone and helps him or her to persevere and remain on that positive road of life.

I have just completed the ultimate competition for myself and that was to win my WNBF Pro card, which I just won on June 5, 2004. I could not have done it without some help along the way from some very special people. First and foremost was my wife Monica, who has been there for every aspect of training, nutrition, and each show I have attempted to get the elusive pro card. She made it worth all the effort to get back up each time and pursue the goal I set for myself. She was the main support when things did not always go the way I wanted them to go, but through it all like the “Shrimpin' Boat” from Forrest Gump she was still there to guide me in my quest. For that, I thank her from the bottom of my heart and know that she is my #1 FAN!!! I love you, Nanny!!

Secondly, I would like to thank the best nutritionist for all of his help in getting me to my final destination, my pro card. He has guided my wife and me to a better understanding of nutrition and helped me to finish off all of my hard work the right way during “Peak Week”. His name is Dr. Joe Klemczewski. Dr. Joe has been the final missing piece to help me complete my ultimate dream of becoming a WNBF pro bodybuilder. I mean I had my doubts along the way, but Dr. Joe continued to feed me the positive reinforcement to “Persevere” on my journey to attaining my pro card. He took all of the guesswork out of what exactly needed to be done to win my shows that he guided me in. In my 3rd year of working with Dr. Joe, and after 8 shows, five of which I won my weight class it finally happened on the 8th show at the 25th Anniversary of the INBF Hercules I won my weight class and my WNBF pro card!!! The judges were telling all of the comments Dr. Joe wrote about what would happen on stage during the show to me after the prejudging was over. It was such a great feeling to feel the relief, excitement, and joy culminating to this great apex. Dr. Joe has been my recipe book to success and I carried out all of his suggestions and plans to the tee. He really knows it all when it comes to preparing for a bodybuilding contest, and nobody does it better than Dr. Joe.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family for being there through all of the thick and thin of my preparations. My Mom would be so proud of my accomplishment if she were here right now and I know she has tears of joy for me as she watches from above. I love you, Mom and thank you for giving me life. My brothers, Keith and Victor were a tremendous support and have stayed right there to be a solid base for me when I needed either one of them. Thank you guys!!! My brother Keith and his wife Debbie have had a new addition to the family, my godson Timothy. Keith has gone out his way to be there as a support while Timmy and Debbie have been when they could. They give their support in other ways. These shows can surely be grueling on an adult let alone on a two year old. Some shows can start at nine or ten in the morning and run until midnight. I know how hard the lifestyle can be on certain family and friends, but for one to truly succeed the preparation can consume every last bit of you. I thank all of you for hanging in there with me and appreciate your support!!!! And last but not least, I have my sister-in-law, Kathy. She has also been there to support me whenever she was asked. It is not something very easy to sit through when the sight of veins gets you queasy, but through those long days she was there for moral support and I thank you Kathy. Before the last show, Kathy recently got engaged to a great guy named Sean. Sean has never seen anything like this before but he came and gave his support as well. He really enjoyed the whole thing and I thank him for being there and welcome him into the family.

Just like the word persevere says, “to continue in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement”, I have succeeded despite the few curve balls that have been thrown my way. I have first and foremost received my BA in Health and Physical Education which took me over 10 years to complete. I have also received my NSCA's CSCS certification, one of the most sought after personal trainer's certification. I will be married to my wife, Monica for 2 years this Tuesday June 15th, and now the icing on the Carvel Cake, my WNBF Pro Card. All of these accomplishments could never have been attained without my support group I have just mentioned and I thank all of you so much for sticking with me through all of these incredible times. It has been one great roller coaster of a ride, and thank you for riding it with me.