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Celeste Dawson had made up her mind. She was not going to attend college and that was her final decision. 

Her story could have ended there, but the support of her parents and a program at �鶹ӰԺ opened up a new chapter in her life – one filled with opportunities she never imagined.

Ms. Dawson’s journey began shortly after high school when she informed her parents that she was not going the �鶹ӰԺ State. However, that conversation had not gone over well.

“I was scared to transition into a new phase in life,” said Ms. Dawson, now 21. “After a lot of back and forth, eventually my parents had the last word. The first few months at �鶹ӰԺ State were hard.”

At times, she felt as though she did not fit in, nor know what she wanted to do with her life. But, her situation soon took a positive turn. Ms. Dawson, who chose to live in the EXCEL Learning Community, which stands for Explore Careers, Education, and Leadership learning, in Lake Hall. The program provides the opportunity to achieve academic success, explore majors and careers and connect with like-minded students during her freshman year. 

Ms. Dawson began to spend time with her EXCEL mentors and started making friends. She also signed up for a Peer Leader training course in �鶹ӰԺ State’s University College.

“I went home for winter break and finally I was super excited,” Ms. Dawson said. “But I still didn’t feel totally connected. I wanted to stay home in Toledo and be with my family.”

Ms. Dawson’s family urged her to finish the spring semester before she decided whether to leave �鶹ӰԺ State.

“When I came back from winter break, the courses were more interesting,” she said. “I loved the Peer Leader training course. And I reconnected with friends.”  

Since then, Ms. Dawson has worked diligently to excel academically and to become a leader on campus. She has been a Flashguide at Destination �鶹ӰԺ State, an EXCEL mentor and has been involved in Undergraduate Student Government as a senator representing University College.

For four years, Ms. Dawson has been involved with the Flash-A-Thon, a 12-hour dance marathon to raise money for children fighting cancer. She also has been a First-Year Experience Student Success Leader, a trainer for Peer Leaders and a resident advisor in Lake Hall. 

Ms. Dawson credits the EXCEL program for helping her �鶹ӰԺ State story have a fairytale ending. 

The career exploration component helped her decide to major in Human Development and Family Studies in �鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services. After graduation in May 2019, she plans to attend a graduate program to specialize in higher education so that she can work with college students. 

“Being connected on campus gives you the feeling that you have a purpose on campus and helps with your academics,” she said. “Being interested in your major and being connected makes campus feel like a second home. I found my place here at �鶹ӰԺ State. �鶹ӰԺ has guided me to find my passion.”