Garon Wennon, a Metro junior and personal trainer says that he sees no sense in taking life too seriously. 

“I think a lot of people are too stressed, and need to stop and just laugh,” Wennon said. 

Wennon has always looked to the lighter side of things. 

“When I was in middle school, people told me that I shouldn’t run too fast because of my big ears,” he said.  “They told me that my ears would take me off the ground – flying.” 

Wennon took the criticism lightly.  “I don’t have a problem with it now,” he said.  “I know that I’ve grown into them.” 

Wennon went on to say that in high school he wore braces with uncomfortable head gear.  A mask, he says, that resembled something from Silence of the Lambs. 

“People told me that I looked like a vampire. I had these ghastly metal frames surrounding my shaved head.  When I would open my mouth, the rubber bands with food stuck on them resembled vampire fangs – it was funny,” Wennon said. 

In addition, Wennon even takes his love life lightly. He says that he has given up on dating. 

“I’ve had one girlfriend that lasted three months,” Wennon said.  “Since then, most of my dates lasted three days.  Now it’s down to one.  It seems as though they keep getting shorter and shorter,” he added.  “At this rate, who knows what will happen. At least my ears stopped growing.”

Despite having humorous memories, Wennon continues to change lives on a daily basis in the gym. As a personal trainer at X-fitness in Denver, Wennon has been training clients for the past year and a half.

Wennon says that most of his clients come in with little motivation.  They want to change the way they look and feel, but don’t necessarily know how or have the drive to change.

 “That’s where I come in. I provide the knowledge and give them the determination they need to succeed,” he said.

Photo by - Shannon Davidson Garon Wennen spots fellow Metro business management major Travis Brown at X-Fitness in Glendale. Wennen is a personal trainer.

 “I get a lot of repeat business, mostly referrals,” Wennon said.  He says that every client he has trained has lost at least 25 pounds, in as little as three months.

 “I want to see people feel better.  I want them to gain respect for themselves.  I want them to achieve goals,” he said.  “I never thought I would be training people.  I started working out seriously three years ago and didn’t think about being a personal trainer,” he added. 

Wennon says that he is considering changing his major from business management to exercise science, in order to pursue a career in personal training. 

“I thought I was going to be a video game tester ‘when I grew up’,” Wennon said.

In addition to physically training employees, Wennon is also involved in the corporate training of X-fitness. 

“Currently, I am training employees to open a new store in Highlands Ranch,” Wennon said.  Wennon is training the employees on anything from cash registers and personal training to the actual content of the diet supplements the stores sell. 

Wennon, a 21-year-old, shows discipline by earning a prestigious position for such a young individual. 

“I’ve learned that no matter what you do, school work, work—work, hobbies, whatever – do it to the best ability that you can,” he said.  “Take things seriously, but don’t forget to laugh.  Make sure you put some time aside for yourself.” 

“I’m a man of honesty and integrity,” Wennon said. “I’m also a good listener.” 

Wennon recalls several instances in high school where he says he “listened to people who would talk hours on end.”

“Most of my friends that were girls would cry on my shoulder for hours,” he said.  “With big ears, you kinda have to listen,” Wennon said, laughing lightly. 

Wennon says he likes to listen to people’s problems.  He says he wants to make a difference in people’s lives. “If I can make someone’s day just by listening, then I know I have done my job,” Wennon said.  “There are a lot of people who just need to get things of their chest, and I’m one to take it off, I guess.”

For the future, Garon says his main plans are to finish buying his house, earn his degree, and keep looking to the lighter sides of things – even if his ears continue to grow.