Trevor Slayton

Growing up, I was always into sports—whether it was soccer, football, baseball, track and field, or wakeboarding out on the lake. I started working out in high school, where I was often judged for how skinny I was. After my freshman year, I began going to the gym almost every day. I had no idea what I was doing, but I watched plenty of YouTube videos, had a shaker bottle, and bought some whey protein from Walmart.

When I returned to school my sophomore year, I was noticeably bigger than the year before. Many people asked what I was "taking" and how it happened, but it all started with a little bit of motivation from those who tried to belittle me. Throughout my high school career, while playing football and competing in track and field, I earned multiple trophies. I was recognized as All-County and 2nd Team All-State in football. In track, I participated in pole vault, triple jump, the 4x100, the 4x400, and the decathlon at the end of the year. We won state titles back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. I used to hold the school record for the highest pole vault at 13', though that record was broken a few years later.

My turning point and biggest motivator is the belief that "It can always be better." Growing up playing sports, I always wanted to improve, and the same applies to my time in the gym. Did I hit a personal record today? Great—now my goals have shifted. Did I complete the workout within the target time frame? Awesome, but how can I improve that movement or get faster? This mindset extends beyond the gym; it's a part of my everyday life. What can I do to better myself? Maybe it's waking up early, making my bed before I leave for work, or helping those around me. What can I do to help myself and others so we can improve together?

I want to see others reach their goals. I want to help people improve themselves in every way possible. I truly thrive on seeing others achieve their goals, even more than my own. No matter what kind of work you put in today—whether in the gym, at home, or at work—know that you did a great job, and you can go to sleep knowing there's always tomorrow to get even better.