SELF MOTIVATION, PUTTING IN THE WORK AND MOVING UP THE LADDER

Born and raised in Nicholasville, Kentucky, a short drive from Berea College, Dustin is one of three children. High school afforded him the opportunity to take engineering classes that, along with inspiration from high school teachers and family, started his path toward a computer science degree.

"I like to know how things work," said Dustin. "I like to get to the bottom of things and solve problems." His grandparents helped guide him toward a post-secondary education and "they convinced me to come to Berea and check out the campus," said Dustin.

In addition to pursuing his studies in computer science and religion, Dustin credits the labor program as being helpful in his growth as a student. His first assignment was in facilities management at the Seabury Center, then becoming the on-call student for facilities management his second year. From there he moved up to a supervisory position within facilities management for his last two years.

Dustin finds the labor program to be a huge benefit of his college experience. "I feel like it motivates me to do my classwork and everything else," said Dustin. "Even if the job has nothing to do with your major, you still have to come to work every day and keep up with the hours and do additional tasks without being asked. You can still move up the ladder and show your dedication and hard work through the labor program." He says it offers students the ability to be self-motivated and to "take pride in anything you do." Dustin said, "I have had a lot of responsibilities, but it taught me that I can handle it and still learn from the experience and help people despite how much I had to do to get my job done."

A first-generation college student, Dustin notes that "the small setting of Berea really opened a lot of doors for me to make connections with my professors, my supervisors - things I can carry on beyond college." He also has a great appreciation for the opportunity to attain a Berea education without paying tuition. Dustin says that donors have "made a big difference in my life." If it wasn't for Berea and its donors he said, "I'm not really sure where I'd be right now. I definitely would not be as successful as I am today." Dustin notes that sometimes experiencing difficult situations takes a toll and illustrates "how important education is and how important affordable education is. Without donors this place couldn't exist. No matter who you are, no matter where you came from, everybody deserves a chance to try and make something of themselves," said Dustin. "And having all those amazing people who donated in the past made my situation and my story possible. Thank you."