This is a published feature I wrote for The Daily Progress about Monica Quarles, a therapist and strength athlete. I wanted the story to be about more than lifting; it was about confidence, identity, and someone finding strength in a place where she did not always feel like she belonged.

I included it here because this is the kind of storytelling I care about: finding the person at the center of the story, understanding why their experience matters, and presenting it in a way that helps other people see them more clearly.