Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Williams.
Darren, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born on September 8, 1990, on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. I was raised in, Providence, Rhode Island, where I played Pop Warner football for the Mt. Hope Cowboys (one of the reasons I love the Dallas Cowboys so much). From there, I attended Bishop Hendricken High School, in Warwick, RI, from 2004-2008. In high school, I was a two-sport athlete in both football and track. When I was 20 years old, I enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in August of 2010. From 2012 to 2016, I attended Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA. While at Fitchburg State, I played two years of college football before being forced to concede due to injury.
In 2016, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Science in Criminal Justice, and also met my wife Samantha Williams. In 2017, I was deployed with the Army to eastern Europe as a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Before our deployment, my unit was sent to Ft. Hood, in Killeen, TX for two months of training. This is where I fell in love with Texas, more specifically Dallas. The weather was beautiful, and the cost of living was much more affordable than the upper East coast where I am from, and oh yeah, I’m a die-hard Cowboys fan. After my ten-month deployment, my fiance (now wife) Samantha and I decided to make the courageous move from New England to Texas.
In February of 2018, we moved into our first apartment here in Plano, TX. Our first year and a half here in Plano have been filled with ups and downs. I personally went through about eight jobs before finally landing at F45 Willowbend. Also, Samantha and I are currently doing our best to raise two baby girls. Kendall, who is nine months old, and Kari who at the time of writing this piece is due to be born in January of 2020. God, my wife, and my two daughters bring the ultimate joy to my life and they give me the strength and courage to continue to do my best to make them proud. Although Samantha and I moved to Texas alone we have had many blessings sent our way from our families back up North, and also have found a great supporting cast here in Texas. F45 Willowbend has been nothing but spectacular for me and my family. They have been nothing but flexible with my military schedule (as I currently still serve) and have allowed me to flourish and thrive as a personal trainer.
My staff and management have been nothing but supportive and understanding of my family and show genuine care and concern for our needs. I thoroughly enjoy training and have a genuine passion for what I do because I love to see people improve their lives through fitness. I truly believe that fitness is essential to happiness and that not only can being fit make you physically tough but mentally tough as well. Before my grandfather passed away, he told me “nothing in life worth having comes easy”; and although this new transition in my life has been extremely challenging I know that the love and support of my family and friends will keep me going. I would not be where I am at today without my parents, grandparents, my brothers, my wife and my in-laws, and I want to thank them for their love and patience. Also, I would like to thank F45 Willowbend for their continued support and also for being the best studio in Dallas.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. In 2016, one of my closet college friends Dejae “Trey” Pizarro was killed in a car accident leaving my college graduation cookout. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to endure to hug his mother and tell her I was one of the last people to see her son alive. Also, I have lost numerous friends in the military, and also the loss of two of my grandparents was very hard on me. After my deployment in 2017, I suffered from depression and anxiety to which I am working hard to overcome.
Please tell us about F45 Willowbend.
F45 Willowbend is a functional fitness studio that specializes in creating workouts that are catered to everyday life. The cool thing about F45 is that each workout is only 45 minutes long and I promise it’s the best 45-minute work out you’ll ever get. My job at F45 Willowbend is to make sure that our members are safe and that they are constantly motivated throughout the workout. I am probably most known for my scream at the end of our demo session. I think we are most proud that our company has treated our members with the utmost respect and the ultimate professionalism. I believe what sets us apart from others is that each team member has their own gifts to which we all use together to create one explosive unforgettable 45 min work out.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t have done anything differently God placed me on this path for a reason and everything I’ve had to endure is his plan of preparation for my life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6100 W. Park Blvd Suite 200
- Website: https://f45training.com/willowbend/home
- Phone: 2149323140
- Email: willowbend@f45training.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/f45_training_willowbend?igshid=1xcyyfn41xi91
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F45-Training-Willow-Bend-732502693793309/
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