Succeeding together Durrah quickly became a shining example of the program’s success, taking on a leadership role as a school captain. He also went on several NCADD-sponsored college tours across the U.S., something he wouldn’t have otherwise been able to aord. Apart from the programming itself, Durrah says it helped to be around
other young people who were also motivated to make good decisions, saying it created a culture of positivity. “You hang out together, you have fun together,” Durrah says. “If one person is excelling, it motivates you to excel as well.” Durrah stayed with the program throughout high school and still keeps in touch with some of the mentors and program leaders who made such an impression on him.
Durrah says the NCADD sta went above and beyond and were truly passionate in their desire to help kids in the program succeed. “All the sta who partook in the program, they genuinely wanted to be there,” Durrah says. “ere’s so much they could be doing with their time and they chose to try to make an impact on our lives, and they denitely made an impact on my life.”
“If one person is excelling, it motivates you to excel as well.” - Jacob Durrah, S.A.F.E.T.Y. program alumnus
Future success D urrah is now a senior at the University of Michigan studying computer science and engineering. Throughout his college career, he’s participated in a wide variety of activities, studied abroad, completed a number of internships, and held several leadership positions in
student groups. He says his motivation to take on those challenges has its roots in the S.A.F.E.T.Y. program. “The opportunity to develop as a leader, that was definitely a great thing,” Durrah says. “I carried that on throughout my time in college.” Going into his final semester, Durrah is finishing up an internship with J.P. Morgan
and is still undecided as to what his next move will be. He says he’s excited for his future and will always remember how NCADD helped change his life for the better. “It’s made a huge impact on my life,” Durrah says. “I can definitely say I wouldn’t be where I am now without the S.A.F.E.T.Y. program.”
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