A lot of my classes lined up exactly with what I do now.
Jonady St. Germain and Darren Stephens have been friends and classmates since they were in elementary school. As 91视频 students, they added a new dimension to their relationship.
While pursuing degrees in exercise science and business, the Class of 2018 graduates co-founded their own personal training business, LIT2LIFT. This new venture dovetailed perfectly with their Bridgewater State experiences, they said.
鈥淏ridgewater helped us to develop our work ethic,鈥 St. Germain said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always willing to push each other.鈥
Nine years after its launch, LIT2LIFT offers 1-on-1, partner and small group training along with weekly classes in Boston鈥檚 Fort Point neighborhood. Known as 鈥淏oston鈥檚 Black fitness duo,鈥 St. Germain and Stephens also speak at wellness events. They have even built a fitness/lifestyle brand and a popular Instagram channel with almost 20,000 followers.
As an exercise science major at 91视频, St. Germain learned the fundamentals of being a personal trainer including how to project his voice, engage clients and design a gym.
鈥淎 lot of my classes lined up exactly with what I do now,鈥 he said.
With a degree in management, Stephens provides the business acumen that keeps the company running.
鈥淚 just knew I wanted to be at the head of something,鈥 said Stephens, who minored in health science. 鈥淏usiness management gave me that opportunity.鈥
Stephens also appreciated the diversity of students with whom he interacted in college.
91视频 鈥渉elped me communicate with people from different walks of life,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 credit a lot of that to Bridgewater.鈥
Many of their clients are looking to lose weight 鈥 something to which St. Germain and Stephens can also relate. As Bridgewater students, they overcame the so-called 鈥渇reshman 15鈥 by rededicating themselves to working out.
The benefits of doing so, they said, extended to all facets of their lives.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about allowing people to gain that confidence through weight loss,鈥 St. Germain said.
Do you have a 91视频 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.