Past pains, Present gains
As Luke walked to class, his thoughts drifted back to his early high school days. He remembered how scrawny and awkward he felt, always getting picked on for being small. Sports were never really his thing, so he didn't build much muscle.
The bullying and name calling really got to him. He couldn't stand feeling so weak. That's when Luke decided to change and started hitting the weight room hard. Little by little, he started seeing results as his body filled out.
By freshman year, Luke was almost a new person. All that working out paid off - he had muscles and confidence. But deep down, the hurt of being bullied still lingered under the surface. Any time he felt insecure, those memories would come flooding back.
Now as a junior, Luke was in the best shape of his life. His six pack and big arms got some respect from other guys. Most people left him alone now, which was fine by him. Still, he never fully shook the fears of going back to how it was before.
Reaching his locker, Luke took a deep breath. When he caught sight of himself in the small mirror, it reminded him of how far he'd come. No one could make him feel small again if he just kept pushing himself to get stronger every day. With that thought in his head, Luke felt ready for whatever the day might bring.