| Brian Dubiel
Senior, Coordinated Program in Dietetics
Poland, OH
How I got to YSU.
I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, a relatively small city in
northeast Ohio. I graduated from high school as a below-average
student in 1999. After high school I spent three long years
working a construction job where I quickly realized that I
could not do this for the rest of my life.
I enrolled at YSU in the very next fall, even though I hadn’t
the slightest idea what I wanted to do. However, I knew that
if I could just graduate with a college degree, I could earn
a living much easier than I could without it. As the semesters
passed, I realized that I liked school because I was doing
well; I had a reason to be here. Before long, I started set-ting
my sights higher. I wanted all A’s every semester, and
that’s what I got with the exception of a few B’s.
When I think back on my high school years and how poorly I
did, I know now that I have only just begun to uncover some
of my potential.
What surprised you most about YSU?
I was amazed at the level of service that faculty provide
here. They keep their office hours, answer your emails, and
are always available for questions and individual attention.
I’ve also been impressed with the number of academic
options I have at YSU. I started out in psychology, but was
able to switch majors—and colleges—easily.
How has YSU changed you?
When I was in high school, I didn’t care much about
my education. I went to vocational school my last two years
to study carpentry, and I held a couple of construction jobs.
I realized I didn’t want to do that the rest of my life.
So I came to YSU, started taking classes, and found the dietetics
program. I’ve found out where I want to be. University
partnerships with area health care providers insurethat students
have hands-on clinical rehearsals for the real thing. Now
I’m taking a personal interest in my education for the
first time, and I’m getting lots of support. Working
as a peer assistant in the Center for Student Progress has
helped me get to know a lot of different kinds of people,
and I’m president of the dietetics student honorary,
Kappa Omicron Nu.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishments at
YSU?
I’ve made the Dean’s List every semester. This
spring, I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the national academic
honorary society. So those are pretty cool things for someone
who wasn’t even planning to go to college.
What about the future?
I will graduate soon, but that is not the end of my education.
I plan on going to medical school within five years of this
fall. If I am accepted, I will study to become a primary care
physician.
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