Building fitness and building community
When Samuel (Sam) Stephenson II first moved from King, North Carolina to the Maastricht Region, he expected culture shock. Instead, he found an international community, easy transport and a place where people quickly made him feel welcome.
Today, he runs Way2Be Fitness, a personal training business built on 2 passions: fitness and community. His story shows how international students and graduates can build a future in the Maastricht Region – not only through study and work, but also through meaningful connections with local people and fellow internationals.
Getting started
Sam Stephenson came to the Netherlands to study for a master’s degree in Business Management at Maastricht School of Management (MSM), part of Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics. Before moving abroad, he worked as a teacher in North Carolina. Although he enjoyed teaching, he wanted to explore new opportunities and felt it was the right time to experience life in another country. ‘I thought, well, I’m young, I’m single, this is probably the only time I have to go live in a different country’, he explains.
He applied to tertiary institutions in London, Barcelona and Maastricht, but Maastricht quickly became the clear choice. One important factor was that MSM accepts Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), making it easier for US students to study here. So like many internationals, he first arrived as a student. After graduating, he remained in the region through the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), which allows US entrepreneurs to start businesses in the Netherlands more easily.
The formalities side of settling in was smoother than he expected. MSM helped organise his visa and paperwork, while online systems from the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) made administrative processes straightforward.
Finding a sense of belonging
According to Sam the biggest challenge for many internationals is not bureaucracy but belonging. ‘The language wasn’t an issue. Transport wasn’t an issue. Community becomes an issue for internationals if they don’t have a place to centre their community’, he says. For him, that place was a CrossFit gym. Soon after arriving, he joined a local fitness community and quickly felt at home. Shared spaces like gyms, he believes, create natural opportunities for friendships between internationals and locals. In Maastricht, fitness is often about more than exercise. Sam noticed that people regularly stay after training to drink coffee, talk and spend time together. ‘One thing that I really love is some of the older members of the gym come every Saturday morning, train together and then sit and eat Limburgse vlaai with coffee’, he says with a smile. ‘That’s amazing.’ This sense of community left a lasting impression. In the United States, he says, gyms often focus purely on fitness. In Maastricht, the social aspect is just as important.
Starting Way2Be Fitness
That spirit of connection also inspired his business. The name Way2Be Fitness comes from a phrase his uncle often used while Sam was growing up. Whenever he did something well, his uncle would say, ‘Way to be.’ Today, Sam uses the same phrase to encourage clients during training sessions. ‘I love the idea of celebrating positive ways of being’, he explains. ‘It feels deeper than just saying “well done”.’ The “2” in Way2Be is a nod to his father, after whom Sam is named, hence the somewhat traditional “II” after his surname.
Starting a business in the Maastricht Region proved easier than expected. As he rents space in existing gyms, he did not need a large upfront investment. Still, he advises aspiring entrepreneurs to prepare financially before making the move.
For international graduates considering entrepreneurship, his advice is simple: ‘Just do it.’
Settling in the Maastricht Region
He believes the Maastricht Region offers strong opportunities for people willing to build connections and become part of local life. International education, accessible transport, multilingual communication and a welcoming environment all contribute to its appeal. At the same time, he encourages newcomers to look beyond lectures and tutorials. Joining clubs, playing sports and exploring the region can make a huge difference.
Stories like Sam’s show why many international students choose to stay in the Maastricht Region after graduation. What begins as a temporary study experience can become a long-term home, career and community. His journey from student to entrepreneur is a reminder that success in a new country is not only about work or study. It is also about finding people, places and communities that make you feel you belong. Sometimes, that feeling begins with something as simple as a workout, a coffee and een stukste vlaai after class.
Passport
Nationality: U.S.A.
Lives in: Scharn, Maastricht, NL
Works in: CrossFit Batteraof in Heugemerveld, Makana Movement in Scharn, Maastricht UMC in Randwyck in Maastricht, NL
Hometown: King, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Favourite spot: https://restaurantvilleneuve.nl
Contact Sam via:
