When I tell people that my mom is a bodybuilder, their reaction is always amusing. Usually, it is a mixture of surprise and curiosity. I can understand their responses since mine was similar when she began eleven months ago. I never thought of my mom as someone who would be interested in doing something so extreme.
Jackie Dwyer works here at SXU as Assistant Controller. And as I stated above, she has worked her butt off (literally) for the past eleven months. After going to work everyday and then coming home to take care of three kids, she found time to go to the gym.
Her leading decision to get into bodybuilding was because she is always looking for a challenge. Whether it is physical or mental, she always wants to go to the next step. My mom has always been a fit person. She loves working out not only to keep her body in shape, but also to relax her mind. So naturally, the next step in challenging herself would be to start lifting weights in order to work towards a goal.
Her first competition was the 2013 Midwest Ironman on November 2, 2013, a tough competition to do for a beginner. She competed in the Master’s Figure, which is a division of Physique specifically for women over the age of 35.
My younger brother, sister, my boyfriend, and I all showed up to the first one to cheer her on. When she approached the stage and did her poses, we yelled and encouraged her. I could see on her face that she was joyful her family could come and support her.
Her second competition was the Natural Mid-States Muscle Classic XXVI on November 16, 2013.
This second competition was even better to watch since I went to the pre-judging instead of the night show. At the night show, the competitors are on stage for only a very short amount of time to pose.
The pre-judging is where the judges decide who will win, so this is where the competitors really strive to show off their bodies the hardest.
When my mom walked onto the stage with the rest of her division, I was able to witness her really compete. It was such a proud moment in my life seeing my mom’s hard work from the last year pay off up on the stage.
Even if she did not win any trophies, she still accomplished something that the average person would never attempt. For months, she worked out for hours each day and stuck to a strict diet.
While at first I thought that the entire bodybuilding thing was silly and superficial, I soon understood why it was important to my mom. She did it not because she wanted to adhere to society’s standard of beauty; she did it, because she wanted to achieve something she had not yet done.
My mom has always been a woman of many achievements. She has raised three kids as a single mom. She received her Master’s degree in Accounting. And she has worked her way up in her career field to where she is now. And her next goal is to take her CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant.
When it comes to looking to someone for inspiration in life, my mom is the perfect choice. Anything she has set her mind to, she has accomplished. She never lets life get her too down and like the old saying goes, if at first she does not succeed; she will try and try again.
While she did not come home with anything except a great t-shirt, she placed well in each competition. I know she is disappointed, because she did not place in the top five, but she certainly should not let that get her down. She did not disappoint me, in fact she inspired me.
She did not let down the rest of her family and friends either. Everyone supported her and still supports her in everything she does. She inspires all of us to be a better version of ourselves.
With words of encouragement, we all look up to my mom, because it is something none of us would ever even attempt to do.
Thank you, mom, for giving your children, family, and friends someone to look up to. You are the best female role model I have ever met. I strive to be as strong a woman as you are one day. I am proud of you.
Lauren Dwyer
Senior Features Editor