No one likes to read the disheartening rash of news about the prevalence of bulling among grade school children. For one incredible child, that bullying proved a catalyst for a nearly unbelievable transformation of both body and spirit.
Seeker Stories introduces us to David Wang, a current fitness trainer and student at the University of Southern California who's using fitness to help others realize their full potential to overcome their obstacles.
David was a former bullied youth who was accosted verbally and physically for being thin and small for his age. He was forced to wear leg braces to compensate for week muscle mass in his lower legs, which only made matters worse. "I was really insecure," said David. "When you're bullied and you're put down, you really feel helpless."
He recalls lying awake at night with suicidal ideation and little in the way of an outlet or safe space for his growing depression and isolation.
But there was a silver lining in the cards for David; channeling that aggression and frustration into a workout in his room, he soon found a new sense of clarity and focus. "I felt really just alive," he says.
It was then that he began honing what he'd later discover was a lifelong passion. Spending long days at the gym, David found a new sense of community and self-worth. He later went on to become a trainer himself, turning that passion into a way to help others as well. When asked what he'd tell other kids who are experiencing bullying, he says, "I think life takes you on a course that sometimes you just don't know what's going to happen. I personally never thought I would be at USC, having a passion for fitness like I do right now. It'll make you stronger."
Listen to his full story from Seeker Stories below. And if you were moved by David's incredible story of personal transformation, please SHARE it with your friends on Facebook!
