Brandon Oshodin, owner and lead trainer of Authentik Fitness, spoke to the group at Westerville North on January 16.
Once every couple of months, for the past few years, a group of Black male students has gotten together at Westerville North High School, under the supervision of Guidance Counselor Jim Kloepfer, to stay motivated and focused and to discuss issues that may be impeding their pathway to success. They have come to rely on each other for advice and positive messages, and have learned the value of expanding their circle of support. It must be working because no one has dropped out of the group, which is voluntary.
Occasionally Kloepfer will bring in a guest speaker, as he did on January 16, when Brandon Oshodin, owner and lead trainer of Authentik Fitness, came to talk with the young men. Oshodin, a Westerville North graduate who was once homeless, is now world renowned for his approach to physical, mental and spiritual training. He lives by the motto: “By faith, not by sight.” When creating his company, he aspired to go beyond helping his clients with bicep curls. He had a vision of creating a culture of excellence, learning to overcome every struggle, and dominating not only in the weight room, but in the classroom, at work and at home. He co-authored, with Jack Canfield, the best-selling book, Dare to Succeed.