Alumni Spotlight: Demetrius Daniels

Demetrius Daniels was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, at a young age. As a prospective first-generation college student, navigating an entirely new institution was daunting. However, knowing that many of his friends were attending Salt Lake Community College, Demetrius enrolled and started his educational journey.

Demetrius' memories of SLCC are mainly of the Taylorsville campus, in what used to be the Multicultural Center—now known as the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs—where he built a close-knit community while participating in multiple extracurricular activities. The greatest lesson Demetrius learned while attending SLCC was time management. As a student active in numerous clubs, working, and having a full academic schedule, he quickly learned to prioritize what was essential versus what was urgent.

When asked to share advice with his fellow Bruins, Demetrius shares two main things to ensure a successful experience at SLCC and in anything one sets one's mind to. The first one is finding a community. Finding people with whom one can connect and share the same joy and passion can help during difficult times. And the second and final piece of advice is to learn commitment.

"Starting college, or anything for that matter, is difficult, but remember your why and your passion, and when it gets hard, lean into your community and do not give up. Remember to master a skill you must work on and commit to even when you feel like giving up," says Demetrius.

Demetrius believes that the most incredible experience a student can obtain from a college career is allowing themselves the opportunity to get involved. He encourages students not to be afraid to attend those club meetings—whether academic, social, or athletic. "The fear of the unknown provides you an opportunity to build character," says Demetrius. "The most beautiful thing about SLCC is to be able to experience different things while obtaining an education."

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