A promising future
Dylan Coleman, B.B.A.'20
Dylan Coleman is set to graduate from Western Michigan University as a star student, a compassionate volunteer and a highly prepared future sales professional. But his successes as a Business Bronco didn’t come easily, nor do they make up for the difficulties he has faced in other parts of his life. Coleman’s determination to finish college—along with the support he received from his WMU friends and professors—has led him to a promising future.
Here, he shares his story of overcoming adversity to achieve his goals.
What is your major and what are your plans after graduation?
I will be graduating with a double major in sales and business marketing and leadership and business strategy, then I will start my full-time career at Service Express in Grand Rapids in a sales development role.
What do you most look forward to about taking that next step?
I look forward to taking everything I have learned from my experiential courses to the next level. I chose to put countless hours of work into my education; now it’s time to make that choice again with my career.
As you reflect on your time at WMU and the Haworth College of Business, what has been most memorable or most impactful about your experience?
It sounds counterintuitive, but WMU and the Haworth College of Business have allowed me to fail. That will be the biggest takeaway from my time here. My managers, peers and professors never made me feel ashamed for failing; instead, they encouraged me to be better. Having the opportunity to fail prepared me for the next level.
You have been highly involved in programs that emphasize social responsibility and giving back. Can you tell us about some of those?
Dr. Tim Palmer’s Sustainability and Ethics class called on every student to give back in some way. During this course, I spent time helping a family of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which changed my perspective of the world. I helped teach the adults English and assisted the children with schoolwork. I witnessed the parents working 60 hours a week to provide for their kids, and the children model that same work ethic in school. This was an eye-opening time for me, and I credit Western’s call to social responsibility for helping me broaden my understanding of people and the world.
Why do you think it’s important to help others?
There’s nothing more important than helping others. As humans, we depend on one another to become better and help each other grow. A good example of this is from my Advanced Selling course’s transition to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. All classes were moving online, but we still had our first sales call to complete. My classmates and I spent hours on WebEx practicing and providing feedback for one another. We were there to help each other succeed, even in a difficult time of transition.
A big part of being a Bronco is valuing each other’s past experiences and the challenges we overcome to get where we want to be. Are there challenges you’ve faced—personally, professionally or academically—that you would like to share?
Most of my personal challenges have been trying to find ways to pay for college. My family has been able to provide some crucial financial support, but the majority of my expenses have been covered because of my determination to graduate. I have worked for Residence Life as a resident assistant and manager for three years. My ability to complete college with minimal debt can be attributed to this amazing opportunity, which has allowed to meet so many lifelong friends.
The other major challenge in my life comes from my mother. Her health hasn’t been great over the past several years, and in the fall of 2019 she was hospitalized for about two weeks. My girlfriend and I went to visit her, but I had to return to Western that night because the next week of school was important to my semester. I kept tabs on her health, but devoted the next few days to school, work and student organizations. My friends and professors checked in without knowing the circumstances of the situation. Western has always been my support system for tough times. We are resilient, but more than that, we act like family.
Are there individuals at WMU who have helped you along the way, or who have been particularly influential in your education? Who and how?
Dr. Jim Eckert. His impact goes far beyond classwork and lecture; he takes time to get to know students individually. I had a conversation with him last semester that led to some good feedback about extracurricular projects, but more than that, he recognized the work I was doing in the college of business. That inspired me to finish my senior year strong, in and out of the classroom.
Do you have any parting comments?
I’m disappointed that the spring class of 2020 won’t have a typical graduation, but that doesn’t mean our journey is insignificant. Instead, I hope it bonds us together and makes us more compassionate and resilient.