Aaron Dean Overcomes Challenges To Earn Accolades

After some personal losses, one of which was his stepfather and boss in the construction business, Aaron Dean took stock and reconsidered his life and what he wanted to accomplish.

“I wanted to help people and give back to society. I had, shall we say, a checkered past, but I realized I was more capable than I had given myself credit for,” he said.

He started slowly at Quinsigamond Community College, just taking one English class his first semester, but enjoyed it so much he took a full course load the next semester. “I chose human services as my major and really applied myself,” he said. “I encourage others to make QCC work for them, to tap into the resources that are available and work hard. I would read supplemental information and do extra work, I did sacrifice my time, but it has paid off. My children see what it takes, and the older ones do well at school, they apply themselves.”

At 37, the father of five children, ranging in age from 3 to 16, graduated this spring with his associate degree in Human Services from QCC. He was named the Coca Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar, which includes a $1,500 scholarship, and a Guistwhite Gold Scholar, a $5,000 scholarship through the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

He also received many other awards and accolades, including the Human Services Department Award, the Psychology Department Award and the James H. Harrington Outstanding Student Citizen Award.

“Aaron has a great capacity to draw connections between past and present and to ground his understanding of current issues in the context of historical events,” Human Services Professor Brenda Safford said at the Honors and Awards Ceremony. “He is an excellent student and a motivated activist, driven to promote civil rights and work towards social equality. His own personal experience along with his profound grasp on social history drives his advocacy work.”

She said he has made a huge difference in the world around him. “I am looking forward to see all the good that Aaron will continue to do in his college work and for fellow humanity in his role beyond Quinsigamond Community College.”

Mr. Dean said he plans to attend college next fall, he is leaning towards UMass Amherst but hasn’t made a final decision yet. He may take off a semester next spring to work and earn some money to continue to finance his college plans.

The Worcester native said he has job offers and is looking forward to working in the human services field. During his studies at QCC, he had an internship in the QCC Human Services Department. “It was a great opportunity and I am looking forward to exploring other aspects of human services,” he said.

While he was a student, he was involved in Psi Beta Psychology Honor Society, and was vice president for numerous semesters. He helped organize a Psychology Fest, which raised money for mental illness awareness. He also did independent research and went to Framingham State for a presentation with a team from Psi Beta, as the only community college team.

For PTK, he was an officer and involved for two semesters in volunteer activities. He also served as student trustee on the QCC Board of Trustees.

“Having these experiences exponentially broadened my horizons and QCC sparked the confidence that I could do it,” he said.

He originally dropped out of North High at age 16, earning his GED. He returned to North High in October to speak to high school students about the importance of continuing their education, as part of the Go Higher program.

“It was surreal,” he said. “I realized it was the same time of year, in the fall, that I had dropped out of school 20 years earlier. There was a real synchronicity, I felt like there was a reason I was there.”

Mr. Dean was a part of Brothers and Keepers, a mentor/mentee program at QCC that pairs up faculty with students that are considered high risk.

“Where I have five children and had gone through a loss of business, I was considered at-risk, that I face challenges that might have an impact on my success,” he said. “Being a part of that was a pivotal part of my success, they provided communication and support. As a group we would discuss different topics, review study skills, but then I could approach my mentor and discuss other issues, whether it was about admissions or personal concerns.”

He continued to work part-time while attending school, doing construction, roofing and painting jobs.

Mr. Dean encourages others to tap into the resources available at QCC and to follow their passion, to pick a career that they are passionate about. “It wasn’t about a degree so much for me as a love for learning,” he said. “Shoot high, you don’t always get there but the rewards are high for the effort you put in.”