Growing Stronger in Faith and Life:
Student Spotlight Delilah Witter
By Samantha DePriest
Trinity Christian School middle school student Delilah Witter is a young athlete with a growing passion for both her faith and her favorite subjects, Bible and Math. Recently, Delilah shared what brought her to Trinity, how she is growing spiritually during her time at the school, and what she enjoys doing outside the classroom. Among those activities, one has quickly become a surprising area of strength: powerlifting. After being introduced to the competitive sport, Delilah discovered that she has quite a talent for it. Powerlifting challenges athletes to complete three attempts at their maximum weight in three lifts - the squat, bench press, and deadlift - and Delilah is proving that she is up for the challenge.
(Pictured l to r) Jared Biden, owner of Explosive Mechanics and Delilah Witter.
Image from Delilah Witter
Delilah shares, “When I started attending TCS at the beginning of sixth grade, my family was looking for a school that offered a more Christ-centered education while also providing an environment that better reflected the real world. My sister and I had previously attended a very small Montessori-based private school, and TCS has been a great place to grow both academically and spiritually.
After my first year, my favorite subjects have become Bible and Math because they're both enjoyable, and they challenge me in ways that I like. One teacher who made a lasting impact on me is Mrs. Peters, my Bible teacher. She always communicated God's truth clearly and helped shape the way I think and view the world.
One of the biggest ways God has worked in my life has been through weightlifting. Looking back, I can see His hand in every step of the journey. If my dad hadn't seen a social media post from Explosive Mechanics almost four years ago, he never would have taken me to the gym. I never would have discovered a passion for strength training or met the incredible friends and mentors who have supported and encouraged me along the way.
(Pictured l to r) Delilah Witter and her trainer Emily Quina.
Image from Delilah Witter
At the time, I was running track and field, and my dad thought strength training would help me improve. Although I eventually realized that powerlifting was a much better fit for me than running, that decision changed my life. I can hardly remember the days when I struggled to squat an empty bar, could only bench press 35 pounds, and jumped just over 14 inches off the ground. Through consistent training, patience, and determination, I've grown stronger than I ever imagined.
One lesson I've learned is that anyone can become stronger if they're willing to commit to the process. It doesn't take extraordinary talent, it takes the right guidance, consistency, and the determination to keep showing up. Progress doesn't happen by doing random workouts; it comes from following a good plan, trusting the process, and putting in the work.
The most important lesson I've learned, though, is to never give up and to surround yourself with the right people. There was a time shortly after I started training when every workout felt impossible. The weights were heavy, my muscles were sore, and after high-repetition sets, I often wanted to quit. Sometimes I even cried because it felt so difficult. But my family, my coaches Jared and Emily, and especially my dad, who faithfully took me to the gym three days every week, never let me give up. Their encouragement helped me push through the hard days.”
Today, I'm grateful for how far I've come, but I know I'm still growing. Through faith, perseverance, and the support of the people God placed in my life, I've learned that success isn't about giving up when things get hard—it's about continuing to strive for more, one step at a time.”