Student strives to be best at his biz

By Mallory Stiles
Staff Writer

Twins are definitely an anomaly that inspire curiosity in all of us; so many questions flood our minds at any mention of the word.

However, LCC student and twin Stephonz Flamand has politely asked that the public stop asking, after a lifetime of interrogation.

“Being a twin is great,” Flamand said. “But the questions from people never stop. They just want to know. … Can I feel his pain? Do we share girlfriends? Do we go to class for each other?”

For the record, both twins have confirmed they cannot feel each other’s pain. While similar in some ways, they are wildly different people with their own tastes and interests.

Flamand, 24, is a psychology major currently taking Intro to Psychology and Math 109 for a total of eight credits. He also works part-time at a public health agency in Lansing, otherwise known as Community Mental Health.

“I want to help people,” he said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was going to go for business but I wouldn’t be able to help anyone. I wanted my interactions with people to be more meaningful.

“My goal is to be the best at my job. Whatever I do I just want to be the best at it. I want to have all the answers. I want to be a walking encyclopedia for psychiatrists.”

Flamand described himself as the first one to raise his hand in a classroom; one who definitely brings a spirit of healing to every day of work.

“I work at Community Mental Health as a resident technician,” Flamand said. “I sit with patients and talk to them. I log their day and pass meds. I cook them food. This is their home and I make sure they feel at home in their home.”

Although work and school keep Flamand constantly on the go, he is one of seven siblings and is very close with his parents, so he still makes time to keep them close, even if that just means doing the mundane things, like homework, together.

His other hobbies and interests include cooking and working as a disc jockey. He DJs under the name DJ DaDa, and is available for any and all events starting at $50 an hour, not including traveling fees. For more information he can be contacted at Stephonzf@icloud.com.

Flamand said that DJ’ing was a talent that flourished in quarantine, but cooking has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

“I have been cooking since I was tall enough to look over the sink,” He said. “My mom taught me and I have been learning since. I went from ramen noodles on the stove and grilled cheese sandwiches to learning how to fry chicken and season the food. I just knew that I would have to learn how to make my favorites so I could eat (them) all the time.”

Flamand said he tries to make the most out of each day, but has had to push past his fair share of hardship and racism.

“I aim to be the best at whatever I do and that is why I hate being underestimated so bad,” Flamand said passionately. “When I tell people about the stuff I do, they act so surprised. In class, I’m usually the only black boy in the class and I sit in the back throwing out answers. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I am wrong, but people always second guess me and to me that’s the worst thing you can do.”

Flamand said one of his biggest struggles is feeling like he is not good enough for college at times.

“I walk into a classroom and there is only one or two other people who look like me,” he said. “I have to ask myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ Sometimes, I think I should just go home since everyone thinks I am wrong anyway, but I keep working to make myself feel like I belong.”

Though he may have some self-doubt, his twin, Delvonz Flamand, sees him as somewhat of a superhero.

“Failure is just a stepping stone to him,” Delvonz said. “He doesn’t give up, he turns the loss into a lesson. He can talk to anyone. Put him in any room and he can start a conversation.

“Whenever something is going bad, I can always lean on him for anything.”

Stephonz Flamand is a Virgo whose favorite song right now is “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert. He said he hopes in 10 years to have just returned from teaching abroad and to be on his way to starting a family of his own.

“What keeps me going is knowing that there is more in life,” Flamand said. “If it doesn’t work here, it will work somewhere else. I am never afraid to start over.”