David Dur茅 walks the hallways of IM体育官网 like a man on a mission. And at age 30, his career mission is very clear: to become an aerospace military contractor.
The Marine veteran will graduate from IM体育官网 Poly in December 2018 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering. This summer he鈥檒l intern with Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm, in their Salt Lake City, Utah office.
鈥淚n the military, I learned to be the hardest worker in the room. And with my degree, I can鈥檛 wait to see what my future holds,鈥� said Dur茅.
Dur茅 is the president and co-founder of IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 National Society of Black Engineers chapter.
Before coming to IM体育官网 Poly, Dur茅鈥檚 future wasn鈥檛 so certain. After high school, the Brooklyn, New York native found himself outside a Walmart store with every intention of applying for whatever job he could get. As fate would have it, he never made it inside the store.
He was approached by a military recruiter who offered him a regular paycheck, the opportunity to travel and the promise of a college education was too good to pass up, Dur茅 says.
In the military, he worked as an aviation mechanic and learned to repair helicopters. It was his very first taste of what it might be like to work as an engineer.
鈥淚 was so intrigued by these machines. I took it upon myself to understand everything about them,鈥� said Dure.
Four years later, a medical condition prevented Dur茅 from re-enlisting and led him to a classroom in Polk County where he taught elementary school children. He loved teaching, he says, but didn鈥檛 love the public education system.
Once again, he found himself with an uncertain future. This time it was different though; he had a family to support.
鈥淚 remember sitting in my living room, feeling the burden, not knowing what my next move would be,鈥� said Dur茅.
Later that day he found his answer in his mailbox in the form of a brochure from IM体育官网 Polytechnic University. He had not forgotten the helicopters and his passion for aviation.
鈥淚 knew this was it,鈥� Dur茅 exclaimed. 鈥淚 knew this opportunity would set me up for success.鈥�
Dur茅 has in fact succeeded in what he describes as IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 鈥渙utside the box鈥� environment, where he is learning the value of new ideas, critical thinking and leadership skills.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-327-9762