People who start from the bottom but gradually make it to the top usually have seen it all, and, as a result, they’re prone to whatever comes their way, whether it’s hardships, struggles, or setbacks. It’s what arguably makes them so resilient in the face of adversity. Numerous examples exist of young people rising to success despite their humble beginnings. Still, perhaps none encapsulate it better than the person we are talking about today – Elie Paivan, the content creator, model, and entrepreneur from the United States.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Elie had to leave the country with his two brothers when he was 16 after an attack on his family due to his father’s political views. For a young boy who had never left the country, migrating from his homeland to a foreign nation was not easy, but he had no other choice, especially considering the threat to his family. The journey to the US was equally dangerous as he and his brothers had to traverse from DRC to Angola, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico before they finally made it to the United States.
This is not all! He learned multiple languages during his journey, including Portuguese and Spanish, making him multilingual since he was already familiar with Lingala and French – his hometown languages. The perilous journey was only the start because other hardships would soon follow. Not only did he face prejudice because of his background, but he also had to learn English to fit in with his peers at school. Most people would crumble under such adversity, but Elie always had a positive mindset. He had always been a ‘glass half full’ kind of person, finding glimmers of hope even in the darkest times.
After settling in the US, Elie Pavian continued his education, finishing high school. He was a bright student and hence won multiple awards, including a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, where he is currently majoring in Aviation Management Technology and minoring in Business as a sophomore. Attending high school in America also benefited this talented individual because that’s where his wrestling journey started. However, settling into a new country can be challenging, and Elie struggled to adapt to the culture, make new friends, and find himself.
As a result, he decided to join the wrestling team to acclimate himself to the US culture and make new friends. The decision also made sense since his best friend, Diego Tambriz was already on the wrestling team. Elie might have started wrestling to adapt to his new surroundings, but he quickly fell in love with the sport. He felt an instant connection and realized that it was something he wanted to continue in the future.
In his early days, he faced quite a few challenges. “There’s a funny story about my early wrestling matches,” Elie recalls. “Since the sport was new to me, I did not know much about the rules and how you score points. During one of my first matches, I ended up pinning myself because I was on my back while holding my opponent’s leg as he was standing. It’s quite funny when I think of it!” he adds. However, the biggest challenge he had to face was self-doubt; he would often second guess his talent, wondering if wrestling was even the right fit for him, physically and mentally. Fortunately, the wrestler was accustomed to overcoming adversity and wouldn’t let this hurdle stop him.
As for his future plans, Elie wants to become a personal trainer and help people transform their bodies. Even though wrestling is a thing of the past for him, Elie’s background as a wrestler has taught him the importance of working tirelessly in the weight room, resulting in him making strides with his physique. In addition, he has also accumulated considerable experience training his friends. Moreover, he also enjoys creating fitness-related content, detailing his bodybuilding journey, and sharing essential tips. He has already amassed numerous accomplishments in the fitness and bodybuilding world, but despite his experience, he is still getting certified and is halfway through his course.
What sets him apart from his competitors is the fact that he is not afraid to take risks and has committed to making more inspirational workout content on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Although Elie Paivan claims that he has a long way to go, it is safe to say that he is headed in the right direction. So if you are looking for fitness tips or an inspirational figure to guide you in your journey, let Elie Paivan be your guide because if he can make it, so can you!
