Growing up being the small, weak kid of any group sparked my passion for lifting weights. When I was in my first year of undergraduate, my brother would pick me up three days per week and bring me to the gym on campus to teach me the basics. This fueled my hunger for learning how to become bigger, faster, and stronger, and eventually I saw this as my career rather than just a hobby.
While studying for my undergraduate degree at Rutgers University, I was fortunate enough to work two jobs that I did not know would eventually define my career: Physical Therapy Aide and Fitness Supervisor. Having mentors and peers around me to reference, my knowledge in the field of fitness continued to grow. This led to me becoming a personal trainer and eventually graduating with my Masters in Exercise and Sport Science from Merrimack College.
In between starting my undergraduate at Rutgers University and completing my graduate program at Merrimack College, I took strong interest in both powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting. I saw these two different forms of training as just the challenge that I needed for myself, both mentally and physically. With proper nutrition, my overall power and strength increased exponentially, but I was accumulating injuries and sought a way to train smarter and healthier. Being young and egotistical in the gym, it was hard to take a step back from the heavy weights I was accustomed to. After applying the knowledge I had learned from previous work experiences, as well as my own studies, I began to stray away from my focus on increasing only strength and started to look at the overall picture of being able to move well and continue daily life without discomfort.
In addition to having my Masters degree and personal training certification, I am also a certified Olympic weightlifting coach. Outside of the gym, I consume my time with fishing, hiking, and playing basketball. When I am not enjoying the outdoors, I spend my time discovering new music and learning recipes.
