WOODBURY — Driving into Nonnewaug, anyone could spot this vehicle: a Yamaha R6 motorcycle owned by senior Reece Davis. Next to all the average vehicles in the Nonnewaug parking lot, Davis’ bike sticks out from the rest – just as Davis himself strives to do. 

But Davis wasn’t always the determined, unique individual people know him to be.

In 2018, as a seventh-grader at Woodbury Middle School, Davis loved to stay home, play video games and comfort eat. He was living a low-quality lifestyle with poor dietary habits, and although he knew his lifestyle was lacking, he felt like there was nothing he could do about it. 

“At the time I had no passion for anything,” Davis described. “I felt I had no purpose and no routine. I was lost.” 

To understand how much Davis has changed in his life, one has to understand where he is coming from and his past . What started the turnaround for Davis? 

“I was tired of being fat, lazy, and scared,” said Davis. “I had goals and needed to accomplish them.”

But what did losing weight do for Reece other than make him thinner? 

“Losing weight made me more disciplined with schoolwork and it also made me pick up a new interest in trading,” said Davis.

Losing weight was a tremendous step for Reece’s successful journey. It opened up new opportunities and made him gain new interests like trading, powerlifting, business finance, and motorcycle riding.

What could have shifted his mindset into a person with little hobbies to many? According to Davis, quite a bit.

“Working out made me build discipline, which made me grow more ambition,” noted Davis.

When asked what his grades were when he was overweight Davis responded, “they used to be C’s, [but] now they are mostly A’s.”

According to Davis, “health is wealth.” Not overworking yourself but keeping a good balance of work, school, relationships, and self-care can help high school students like Davis succeed and become more productive.

Dennis Niez-Charest, Reece’s stepfather, is a successful business owner in Woodbury who provided some of the inspiration for Davis’ transformation.

“Seeing how successful Dennis is has inspired me to be better every day,” said Davis.  

From Davis’s point of view, the positive influence Niez-Charest has had on him has made him more determined to be better every day, showing his commitment to change and grow. Davis isn’t scared to take positive influence from others. 

Someone who constantly showed support for Davis was College and Career Resource Center counselor Kathy Green, a longtime family friend.

“He is good-natured and a good friend. He is true to himself and therefore open and respectful of others,” Green said. “Reece is not too proud to laugh at himself and always willing to ask a question if he doesn’t understand something. His candor and independent thinking are refreshing. Academic success simply requires the application of that same self-discipline. Reece seems to have learned this formula.”

Davis’s life shows a strong mindset, staying consistent and creating goals. All his habits and hobbies helped mold his future into a brighter one that he can be proud of. His acceptance to Fordham University is a testament to his hard work and determination.