During the economic downturn in 2008, Sean Gu's parents realized that their son's education was the best investment they could ever make. At that point, they decided to enroll him at Cranbrook and he received more than just an education. Sean reflects on Wilderness and other formative experiences with band, cross-country, and eventually weight lifting. 

In this episode, Sean talks about his experimentation with hobbies and building discipline. Join him and Robert as they discuss trying different things and finding direction in personal life.

Sean Gu (‘15) is a talented guitarist, history buff, ballroom dancer, and weightlifter. When he’s not training for his next competition he’s working as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.

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Cranbrook’s Role on His Weightlifting Journey

[00:09:28] I started going into the Cranbrook weight room. I think a lot of other guys can probably relate to that. You know, The ones who were also at Cranbrook. I remember seeing Jon Tenuta up there. And, he actually showed me the basics. I just started there and then I figured everything else out on my own. That's more or less how it started.

On Finding a Mentor

[00:16:17] What attracted me to weightlifting the most, in the beginning, was everything is under your control. Yes, there are other factors involved that could affect your performance —your coach, your teammates, or your training environment. But at the end of the day, if you put in the work, it's up to you. To do what you need to do on the competition platform like no one else can do for you. It's completely up to you… I think that is what attracted me to weightlifting because it was somewhat black and white in the sense. That, yes, it's hard, but all of it is within your control. You dictate the outcome, essentially.

Keeping True to Yourself

[00:20:56] If I could go back, pull my freshman year self aside and, sit him down and give him some advice, I would say, ‘Don't be pressured into doing things just because everyone else is doing it’. Because when we began our college journey after high school, there’s that image or perception of what college kids are supposed to do. What their experience is supposed to be like. I feel during my freshman year — being lost the way that I was — I went along and did many things that I didn't genuinely enjoy. Just because everyone else did it. I think looking back, I would say, ‘Obviously, you need to step outside your comfort zone and try new things’. But at the end of the day, if you genuinely don't enjoy doing something and you think that it's not like a good use of your time, don't be afraid to like, not do it . Even if, even if it goes against the image that's sort of portrayed of what your college experience should be. I think at the end of the day, you need to sort of muster up the confidence to decide what it is exactly that you want to do, as opposed to just following along and doing what the majority does.