Empty gym awaits its next customers to enter. This gym is a part of a resort inside Kissimmee, Florida.
Wesley Boyette begins his weight training routine. Wesley is on summer break, but enjoys working out .
Wesley lifts the dumbbells and checks his form in the mirror. "It was my first year. It was amazing, it was fun being able to communicate with my team..." said Wesley about being on the wrestling team.
Wesley breathes through the exercise. "I started 5 years ago," he said talking about his weight training journey.
The wrestling 15 year old brings his arm across to stretch. The hardest part about weight training for him was, "Getting used to the soreness and being able to do it the next day was hard."
The bar is secured on hooks ready to be used. "I feel like I'm socially awkward... sometimes it's great to be alone and not a lot of people get that," Wesley shares about his biggest struggle.
Wesley begins to put weights on the bar to make it heavier. He shares that confidence socially is hard because he "gets shy a lot."
Wesley lifts the weighted bar off the hooks and begins his squat exercises. Covid-19 affected his confidence too and limited things.
Wesley exchanges the weights for heavier ones. He shared another struggle in school for him was that he "almost quit football because of the stress."
The student athlete lifts the heavier weights. "Wrestling is awesome, it's not too big of a crowd. I have 5 or 6 teammates.." he shared comparing his experience between the two sports.
Wesley transitions to use the pull down machine. He and his team went to state this past year.
Wesley grabs the machine to use. He is entering into the 10th grade and hopes that this year in wrestling he learns to rely on technique.
He pulls down the machine weighted handles. He shared how a teammate went against to another guy at a wrestling match and won even though he was smaller. "Size doesn't matter... it was his technique," says Wesley.
Wesley holds on to the pulldown handles as they lift up in resistance. The resorts gym is on the smaller side.
Wesley finishes off using the pulldown machine. His favorite football team is the Atlanta Falcons.
Wesley moves to another machine. He says that in his opinion, "basketball is better for cardio."
Wesley closes his eyes in concentration to use the chest machine. According to him a way to help build confidence is " Getting out more."
Wesley finishes using the chest press machine before he does a cool down. "If you fear something, do what you fear," shares Wesley.
Wesley hops onto the elliptical to cool down and add in some cardio exercise. He encourages people who struggle socially to "be more social" because it has helped him gain confidence.
Wesley pushes the door to exit the gym. Another piece of advice that he shares that helped with social anxiety was, "being with my family, being around old people too because they tell you what helped them out."
