English 100<br>
Dayle Turner - Instructor<br>
Leeward Community College<hr>

The following was written by a member of 
<a href="grp-d.htm">Group D</a>.  The students were asked to write a 
detailed piece of approximately 500 words about a person they had 
interviewed.  The goal was to focus on one particular aspect of the 
interviewee and to bring that person to life.<hr> <b><center>William<br>
by <a href="sherilee.htm">Sherilee Berasis</a></b>
</center><p><pre>
     Weightlifting for William is as necessary as eating and

breathing.  You can find him in the gym six days a week, two to

three hours at a time, working with machines and free weights. 

The gym is the cure for all that ails him.  Mentally, it relieves

stress and gives him peace from daily worries that nag at him;

emotionally, it enables him to vent frustration and anger at

certain situations; and physically it makes him feel healthier,

stronger, and self-confident.  It rewards him in a way that

nothing else can.

     Walking into the gym, the clanking sound of weights hitting

each other, the grunting sounds from straining men, and the

slight smell of sweat hits my senses.  Looking around, I wonder

how these big guys can move around so easily in a space jammed

tight with exercise equipment and machines.

     I see him sitting on an incline bench, resting between sets

and talking to "da guys."  Part of lifting weights for him is the

friendship, the "talking story," and the joking around with the

other members.  Known by almost everyone there, his friends

include the young guys in their twenties, the old retirees, and

even the gym workers.  The all call him "Bill" and the handshakes

and jokes flow easily between them.

     Walking over to him, I notice that he's one of the bigger

guys there, being 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. 

He has a thick neck, wide shoulders, and muscular arms and legs. 

He's wearing a black Raiders T-shirt, black sweat pants, white

shoes, and a wide leather weightlifting belt.  A small towel is

wrapped around his neck which he takes off occasionally while

lifting.  Perspiration is evident, making his clothes, especially

his shirt, stick to him.  He has a dark complexion, being of

Filipino, Hawaiian, German, and Chinese descent.  His hairstyle

is the only evidence of his four years in the Navy.  It's very

short with the sides and back shaved close to the scalp.  He's 27

years old although many people think he's younger because of his

enthusiasm and dynamic personality.

     "One more set," he says as I approach him.  He takes a few

seconds to mentally prepare himself then grasps the bar in both

of his hands.  He breathes in deeply, as if he's going to dive to

the bottom of the ocean, then lifts the weights off its rack. 

"You always gotta breathe," he says.  "You gotta feed your

muscles oxygen every time you lift or exercise."

     He's doing an inclined bench press of 205 pounds which looks

pretty easy for him.  "Yeah, dis not my max.  I no like max out

every time an' see how much I can lift.  I mean, I work on

strength but I like have agility and endurance, too.  Das what

counts.  Like if you get into one dangerous situation at work or

somet'ing.  You gotta be able fo' move quick.  Strength isn't

everyt'ing.  I like be strong and in shape.  No sense be all big

but no can move.  Jus' like a lot of dese bodybuilders, dey all

big, planny muscles, but what? No can even scratch deir own back

'cause no moa flexibility.  No make sense."

     Before every workout, he stretches for at least ten minutes

on the floor, extending limbs and easily touching his toes.  For

a guy as big as he is, he's surprisingly flexible.

     Brought up in a health-conscious environment, William always

has physical fitness on his mind.  Given the chance, he would

work out all day, every day and not be employed at all.  But

since he has to make a living just like everyone else, he takes

advantage of working the night shift so he can lift during the

day.

     Done with the weights, he sits on a bench to rest for a

couple of minutes.  "I like be as physically fit as my body goin'

allow.  Das how come I do aerobic stuff, too, not just weights. 

You gotta do stuff for you heart and lungs, too.  You know, dat

cardiovascular stuff."

     To prove his point, next in his routine is the Stairmaster. 

As he simulates walking up an endless flight of stairs, the sweat

begins to bead around his forehead as he talks.

     "Me, I started lifting 'cause my fadda and olda bruddah. 

Dey used to lift.  Plus, I wanted to compete mo' betta in

paddling and football la dat.  I wanted fo' get strong. Plus, I

always used to get picked on, planny fights la dat when I was in

eighth grade." 

     While reflecting back he says, "Fuck," and shakes his head

and laughs.  "I was so small, compared to all da Soles.  Not even

5 feet I t'ink and maybe 90 or 100 pounds.  I used to get my ass

kicked in the seventh and eighth grade by da biggah kids from

Palolo Housing.  I had glasses and braces back den and dey always

took my glasses, broke 'um and den trew 'um in da riva.  I got

sick of dat shit.  But now, da kids dat used to beat me up see me

and dey no say not'ing.  Some no even recognize me.  I biggah dan

all of dem now.  When we was kids I tho't dey was huge, but now

we all grown up, I look at dem and laugh."

     All the years of weightlifting and getting in shaped has

paid off for him although his routine is exhausting.  On Mondays

he works his chest, back, and stomach.  Tuesdays are for

shoulders and arms.  Wednesdays are for legs.  He lifts "heavy"

these first few days then repeats the routine on Thursday, Friday

and Saturday except he lifts "light."  Sunday he rests (actually,

that's the only day the gym closes).

     When asked what would happen if he couldn't lift, he says,

"One time I couldn't lift fo' a few months 'cause my job schedule

la dat.  Ho! I was grouchy.  When I no can lift, I get all

frustrated and pissed off.  'Cause I no can do somet'ing I love

doing and I no can get rid of da stress.  Sometimes I get mad

about somet'ing or I start stressing about somet'ing and den I go

lift.  I feel good afta; even though sore sometimes, it's da good

kine sore.  You not pissed off or stressed anymore an' you feel

healthy and strong like you can tackle anyt'ing."

     He sees lifting as a panacea.  It gave him self-confidence

while growing up and now it relieves his stress and anxiety from

his everyday routine.  He feels it prepares him for his job as a

wastewater plant operator and if he gets hurt he can "rehab

faster."

     What he likes most about lifting and working out is the fact

that what he puts into it is what he gets out of it.  "When you

go school or work, sometimes you bus' your ass an' you give your

bes' but maybe da teacher get favoritism or da boss is unfair or

somet'ing.  Even though you wen work hard, you not goin' get da

"A" or da recognition you deserve.  But with working out and

weightlifting, you give 100 percent, you get 100 percent.   You

work out half-ass, you get half-ass results.  I know I neva goin'

get shortchanged.  It's mental, emotional, and physical

satisfaction.  It's da best!"
<hr></pre> 
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