Today we’d like to introduce you to Emerson Abbey.
Hi Emerson, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Emerson Ronnie Abbey. I am a 23-year-old father to an extremely adorable little boy named Sonder Dapriye Abbey-Kovacik. My fiancee Ellie Kikue Kovacik is the light of our lives. Meeting as friends back in 6th grade at Park Forest Middle School, our bond has had years and years to grow, up until my sophomore year at Penn State was when we started dating.
During this time, I found myself struggling to pay rent, afford food, and school at the same time; this forced me to work job, on job, on job, finding any means of financial support. I was left burnt out. Committing overtime to my job at Target, I stopped going to class in order to keep up financially with the fast life of a college kid. Parties, drinks, parties, food, and some more partying. I was overwhelmed with the anxiety of all of my overdue work and responsibilities. Until I became infatuated with Ellie. She did not attend university, but found a career out of highschool as a Nail Technician. Still living the fast life a college kid but responsibly. She had it all, a car, an apartment, a work ethic I’ve only ever seen in the women I look up to, my mother and 2 older sisters. She was the epitome of relentless adversity.
With all of my odds on my shoulders, these variables stayed the same. Cook, lift, and entertain. I was always one to bring the joy out in others before I thought of myself. In my downtime, I would always ensure I workout at least 3 days a week, it wasn’t a chore or hobby, it was like breathing. Eat protein, lift hard. have fun–then everything else will fall into place. At the end of the semester I was left with a very disappointing transcript, no job, and nothing but my optimistic nature to keep me going. With Ellie by my side, I knew that I had to be more than what I was to keep her, but I was lost. My family was disapponted in my academic effort, my friends are all discussing what classes to take next semester, applying for internships, negotiating job offers. And where am I? In the gym, making tik toks, or at home finding a way to appeal my previous transcipt in hopes of returning for a senior year at PSU. During new year break, I got a call from Ellie, with the news no kid at 22 wants to hear while on vacation with their family. I didn’t panic, I prayed and thought to myself, okay Emerson, what is next. Once I arrived back in State College, back with Ellie, our decision was very apparent from the job: If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this together. The sense of strength I saw in Ellie and her sense of belief she saw in my work ethic, intertwined and blossomed into the beautiful family we have together today.
At 23 years old, we live in a house, both work in careers that connect with our passion. During pregnancy I was able to obtain my personal training certification and my love for fitness soon grew into a determined vision. I started training clients at our local crunch fitness and met a PSU research professor who came to me looking for a bodybuilding coach. Abbie Pauley then sparked my love for bodybuilding, I told her that if you’re going to compete in a show then I might as well too. My already instilled fitness discipline then grew into an overbearing obsession with the art of bodybuilding. Parting ways with crunch after various of unethical practices, I found a home a Treign Fit. A community who saw something in me that I don’t think any one has ever seen. Making the decision to fund my coaching for my first competition, I became immersed into the life of content creation in the fitness industry. Today, I now hold sposnorships from brands that aid my preperation as well as job that not believes in me but pushes me to be better every day. Allowing me to do what I love, create videos, graphic design, lift, etc. all while supporting my family. I don’t like to boost my head too much, but I am happy and blessed for how far I’ve come in this life and there’s nothing more than exponential growth from hear on out. Today Sonder is 1 year and 8months, Ellie and I are rocking this parenting gig, and I am 7 weeks out from my first show, with the determination to make something of the physique I unknowingly have worked so hard to sculpt until know and years to come. Theres a lot of missing pieces to my story, but these are key highlights.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A multitude of struggles from breaking the news about the pregnancy to my family (with no job or chance of returning to school)
Crunch fitness terminating me at the peak of my PT career; I was top 3 in clientele and sales, and fired for reasoning I’m still not aware of, this led to them calling authorities on me for trespassing when I wasn’t told that I was banned after my termination. They did this twice.
Holding 3 jobs during pregnancy and balancing two post partum, while ensuring Ellie had smooth trimesters and didn’t any bad effects of PPD (post partum depression).
Moving into our first home that was had so many things wrong with it
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to refer to myself as a part-time personal trainer and full time bodybuilding dad. Through social media, I’m known for my consistent and determined nature in hand with raising my son. I currently have an athlete sponsorship through Treign Fit and Basic Supplements, who fund my training as well as supplementation. Affiliated with brands such as Ekkovision, boohooman, vytal apparel, and Trifecta Nutrition–which are commission based partnerships which allow my audience, friends, and family to use discount codes for clothes, lifting gear, meal prep services etc.
I also am responsible for all realms of my content creation; from marketing, to self promotion, video editing, brand outreach and more. I believe that my creativity has no restrictions which allows me to use my talent and devotion to supporting my family to my advantage.
During my prep, I’ve been congulated for my discpline and meticulous efforts surrounding my meal scaling, training progressin, and overall self improvement, which I do condemn, however I am most proud of my outlook on life. I try my best to be better than I was yesterday and that stems from being a better father, spouse, friend, person–no one should ever feel as if they do not need to improve. It is important to highlight positivity and kindness, so I try my best to bring light out of all people, stranger or not. The world is an evil place, and the more kind-hearted people who believe in perseverance and improvement, the better the world will become by the time it’s Sonder’s turn to find his purpose. I want to set the standard of what a good man should be, for Sonder and for all.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
These memories will always be vague since I was so little, but I remember taking family road trips with my mom, dad, and sisters. Squeezed in the middle in my tiny car seat(I was a tiny guy), I remember all of us singing to my parents’ favorite songs from Africa. No one missed a word, no arguments were uttered, just our family being a family. Those memories were always th best, when it was all of us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://era-virtual-training.fitpros.coach
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emersonrabbey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592733744325
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emersonrabbey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ERA-VT
