Like many other then-freshmen, Zairy Poot found herself bored at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, when she saw her mom starting to work out in the house, she decided to join her.

What began as an activity to pass the time slowly evolved into a part of Poot’s routine beginning sophomore year. She transitioned from at-home training to a gym-going regimen, focusing on different muscle groups each day and always ending her workouts on the stepmill.

“At the beginning, when I would go to the gym, I would be nervous and think, ‘Oh, I don’t know how to use this,’” she said. “(But I eventually realized that) no one is really focused on you.”

For Poot, the benefts of working out extend beyond the gym.

“I used to compare myself a lot with people on Instagram,” she said. “But since I started (going to) the gym and everything, I feel more confdent about myself. … I just like trying to do better every day and focus on what I can do and what I cannot.”

Beyond high school, Poot plans to continue her strength training through competing in body-building competitions. Moreover, as a frst-generation college student, she plans on majoring in psychology — an interest she found through taking Advanced Placement Psychology at Gunn — at San Jose State University.

“(Personality-wise), I like to listen to people — I’m more of a listener,” Poot said. “Every time that my friends want to talk about something, I’m always there for them to talk, and it kind of made me realize that maybe I have good-quality traits to become a psychologist.”

Poot hopes to pair her psychology studies with her love of training to become a clinical sports psychologist.

“I’m excited to work with different athletes and try to help them with their physical performance,” Poot wrote in an email. “I feel like a lot of what makes a good athlete perform better is the way they think or react to challenges, so I’m looking forward to helping them to reach their full potential.”