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Being Part of a Society - Powerlifting and Weightlifting

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As soon as I arrive to study at Leeds I decided that I wanted to be part of a society. In Brazil, we don't have such things while university students there and from the movies, it seemed pretty interesting for me. I went to the student fair in the first week and there were so many clubs and societies that I was keen on participating. In my second or third week here I tried three different things: running, rowing and powerlifting and almost tried trampoline. As you can see, I am passionate about exercising and I wanted to find my crew.

Due to the lack of free time to join more than one, I chose powerlifting as my first semester's timetable suited with their training schedule. Also, I decided that I'd rather be part of a society but in a sport that is not group sport. The good thing about Uni of Leeds is that we have so many options that everyone can find their tribe. The fact that the training is held at The Edge – the campus gym – makes my life easier if I decide to do any extra exercise before or after the society’s one.

I had a GIAG schedule with powerlifting & weightlifting society and I would go by myself – what my sound scary when you're a newbie trying to join something. Lucky me, a girl who was in the Facebook group texted me asking me when I would go for my GIAG and we decided to go together. After the first day we decided that we would join as we both liked weight training.

I can say that the society has given me Temi and Joe as good friends at the University and our friendship is beyond the scheduled training. We always train together in our free times when we can, and we are usually going to parties at the weekends as well. As it's not a sport that you do with other people – they can help you to make sure you have a hand if you fail or make wrong moves – and because we have some different slots for training, I didn't get the chance to get too close to all of the members. However, I know I can count on them if I need any help or have doubts about the exercises.

For now, I haven’t gone to any socials with the whole society as I was working when they are placed. As my last semester seems to be just around the corner, I plan to make the most of it and get the chance to be more active in the society and make more connections. Undoubtedly, the more activities you take part on campus, the more you notice you know a wide range of diverse people.

I am happy to make part of a group of students who loves doing the same as I do, and I feel we have space for everyone – either you're a beginner and have some experience. In the beginning, I thought that I would just find super strong athletes there, but the truth is you can see different kind of athletes: the ones who are super strict with train routine and diet or the ones like me, who just like powerlifting as a hobby.

The society helps me to achieve a balance in my student life, as I use that moment to interact with my friends, be active and get out of the routine of only studies.

 From left to right: My friend Temi doing Deadlift – one of our favourite exercises; we also have time for selfies between our sets

From left to right: Joe doing the movement that we love and hate – squats; The Edge – where our training happens; Me doing bench press