From high school dropout to dedicated scholar

Stacey Robinson, '18

Photo by Alicia Gautreaux

There is a picture on Stacey Robinson’s office desk that has a special significance for the 48-year-old alumnus of Daytona State College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management program. It is a scene of birds in flight above ocean waves crashing on the shore that was given to him by one of his professors, Joy Colarusso, when he completed his bachelor’s program with honors this past spring.

“She called me into her office one day and said she doesn’t believe in giving gifts to her students, but that she wanted to make an exception with me,” Robinson said. “She talked about how I touched her and my fellow students with my smile and my hugs, and how she sees that I know how important it is to be kind, because one never knows what a person is going through. Then she said she believed I am going to go far in life.”

Robinson recently started the next leg of his life’s journey as an assistant housing occupancy specialist with the Daytona Beach Housing Authority. First established in 1938 by the Daytona Beach City Commission, the authority’s mission is to provide affordable housing to low-income clients. Today, it serves more than 1,700 households, providing safe, affordable public housing for families, the elderly and those with disabilities.

Robinson’s job is to ensure that those clients meet the criteria to qualify for the program. It’s a job he speaks of with passion, one he says fits him well, and will allow him to grow personally and professionally.

Stacey Robinson '18

Photo by Alicia Gautreaux

“When I was hired here, my supervisor told me that what she liked about me even though I was fresh out of college and didn’t have much experience was that she saw that I have drive,” he said. “I’ve learned over time that if you want to accomplish something worthwhile in life, it is important to have dedication and determination.”

A positive outlook on life and a cheerful disposition doesn’t hurt either. It’s what impressed Colarusso so much when Robinson was her student. “He was a great student who was committed to his studies,” she said, “but that’s not why I think he is so terrific. His attitude and his personality are his strength in life. He made my day on a regular basis. That ray of sunshine was a gift that he gave to the whole college.”

Robinson said he was young and immature when he decided to drop out of high school some 30 years ago. “I had no structure. It was a time when I was feeling rebellious, somewhat angry, off track – all those kinds of things.”

Well into his 40s, he decided to enroll in DSC’s School of Adult Education and earned his GED in 2013. With that accomplishment, his drive and determination kicked in. He earned an associate of arts degree in 2016 and capped his DSC experience with his bachelor’s combined with an Associate of Science Certificate in Business Operations and Entrepreneurship in 2018, both with honors. This fall, he is attending Nova Southeastern University on an academic scholarship to earn his Master’s in Business Administration.

“I’m going to take my time with it,” he said. “I really like my job and want to see what opportunities come with it.” It all goes back to dedication and determination, he noted. “Never give up on yourself. It’s never too late.”