Mentors and Momentum

Diasha Hughes, a 2018 Bessemer City High School graduate, initially set out to study psychology at Belmont Abbey College. However, her heart led her down a different path toward a health and fitness career. This passion guided her to the Fitness program at Gaston College, which she describes as the perfect fit for her ambitions.

“The program at Gaston College was the perfect fit for me,” said Hughes. “It provided not only the science behind exercise but also the practical experiences that prepared me for a real career in the field.”

Juggling a demanding 12-hour third shift job while pursuing her education was no easy feat, but Diasha found strength in the encouragement of her instructors, Brett LaFemina and Leonard “Lenny” Martineau, as well as the support of her classmates, and was able to graduate with an associate degree in 2022.

Since graduating, Diasha has continued to make strides in her professional life. Her mentors, Al Shuford, the Director of Sports Medicine Services and Head Athletic Trainer for the Rhinos’ athletic teams, and Lenny Martineau, played pivotal roles in her development. “He (Shuford) played an especially pivotal role in helping me own my momentum,” she noted. “While I was at Gaston, I began working in the fitness center, and later, during my undergraduate studies at North Carolina Central University, I returned and had the chance to intern directly under his supervision.”

Diasha emphasized how hands-on experiences under Shuford’s mentorship transformed her career path. “Working with student-athletes under his guidance was a turning point in my career path, and his support didn’t end at graduation. He also wrote me a letter of recommendation for graduate school and continues to be a mentor and motivator.”

Today, Diasha works as a physical education teacher at Sadler Elementary School in Gastonia while pursuing her Master’s Degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology at UNC-Greensboro, with an expected graduation in 2027.

As she reflects on her journey, Diasha acknowledges that what began as an uncertain plan became a transformative experience. “Looking back, Gaston College wasn’t part of my plan, but it was exactly where I was meant to be. I am grateful for the opportunities, the relationships, and the momentum that continue to carry me forward. Gaston College truly changed the course of my life, and I wouldn’t trade that plan for anything.”

Diasha didn’t just leave Gaston with essential job skills. She built valuable connections that continue to support her success, and we imagine she’ll be paying it forward with her students for years to come.