Page 31 - September 2019

I n the fading light of a Beaufort late love and married a co-worker named

afternoon, Mahassen Hala Fattouh
Susan, Hala’s mother. Susan had moved to
(who goes by Hala) sits clutching a
Daytona from Michigan to live on the beach
steaming coffee with a demeanor
and subsequently met Hala’s father while
reflective of the highest degree of intrepidity in her van “like a true hippie” Hala says,
and stoicism. While admittedly a reserved employed at the Hilton, which remains in
person, the aforementioned demeanor operation to this day. After their marriage
impulses one to question what pursuit of and relative establishment in Florida for the
life or level of adversity demands such a foreseeable future, Hala and her sister were
mien. With gentle expression and shrewd born into a childhood immersed in time
conviction, Hala retells an unfolding journey at the beach and horseback riding. It was
of self-discovery and confrontation with upon this strong familial backbone that Hala
hardship that is unique to her, yet kindred would begin to search for her passions and
to all who navigate the difficulties of life. pursuits.
Twofold, delivered with a spirit driven Hala took an architecture drafting class
towards the heart of something that all of taught by assistant weightlifting coach at her
humanity is drawn to, conquering one’s high school. With a hesitancy towards team-
own setbacks and difficulties to accomplish related sports due to performance related
one’s dreams victoriously. In the words of criticism and social anxieties, Hala was
Tennyson, “To strive, to seek, to find, and not encouraged by her teacher and a friend to
to yield.” This is Hala’s story, a member of pursue weightlifting. As her friend stated, “ itself, but rather that weightlifting puts the
our community, one in pursuit of Olympic If you’re good, you compete. If not, you still competitor in the spotlight and observation
dreams and one that we all should know look good on the beach. Go for it.” It was that Hala was keen to avoid most of her
and esteem. apparent rather quickly that Hala had a life. Regardless of that paradox, they
Hala’s story begins as all of ours do gifting and natural affinity towards the sport. encouraged her to pursue it to the fullest.
with the generational foundations laid by Through this immersion, Hala was introduced Hala’s development rapidly accelerated
her parents. Her father, Mike, emigrated to Olympic-style lifting by the same coach to propel her to be a state champion in
from Lebanon in the early 1970’s before the to supplement her practices, specifically the Florida in a relatively quick amount of time in
outbreak of civil war to attend Embry-Riddle snatch. With natural strength and hunger for the categories of bench press and clean and
Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, improved technique Hala states it was “the jerk as a junior. Her senior year, she elected
Florida at the behest of his family. With plans sport I fell into”. As additional motivation, to forgo competing for the high school
to become a pilot, he fell victim to one of she also states that “it was nice to beat the team to focus entirely on Olympic style
life’s beautiful realities, plans change to the boys.” lifting to progress in it and hopefully earn
bidding of the universal powers that be. Hala’s parents were surprised by her a scholarship to allow her to lift and attend
While employed at a hotel, he fell in newfound outlet. Not because of the sport school while doing so.

BeaufortLifestyle.com | September 2019 31