Dylan Kuehl, a 38-year-old man from Olympia, Washington, had a simple dream: to graduate from college. However, Kuehl wasn’t your typical student. He has Down syndrome, a chromosomal condition that impacts a person’s intellectual and cognitive abilities.
However, with drive, passion, and motivation, Kuehl pushed himself harder than many thought possible to earn his degree and become a proud graduate of Evergreen State College.
“When I first started, I had people tell me that I wasn’t ready for college and it discouraged me. Instead of giving up, I built a yes team of people … who supported my goals and gave me the resources to succeed,” Kuehl said in a graduation video posted on June 9, 2022.
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Kuehl was one of only three out of 900 graduates chosen to give a graduation speech that year.
A fan of dance and painting, Kuehl now holds a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis on writing.
And by walking across the stage, Kuehl has become a trailblazer for others like him and a victory for inclusivity and diversity, the first graduate from Evergreen State College with Down Syndrome in its entire 51-year-history.
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In his speech, Kuel was quick to offer praise to his fellow students, his family, and friends for helping him along on his journey, along with the dedicated faculty members for continuously motivating him to stay true to his path.
“All of our hard work, perseverance and never giving up has led us to this very moment,” Kuehl said.
He also reserved a special thank you to his college, saying: “Evergreen is based on acceptance where many other students like me can have a right to be included. Diversity and inclusion create a well-rounded community for us all.”
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But, even after humbly acknowledging their help, Kuehl made one point very clear: his achievement was only possible through “hard work and perserveance,” and nobody can ever take that away from him.
“We’re all here because of our hard work and dreams,” he said.
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With his new diploma in hand, Kuehl now wishes to motivate others to follow in his footsteps and dare to dream bigger than ever.
“I want my academic and revolutionary achievements to open new doors for more students.”
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There’s no doubt that Kuehl’s remarkable journey shall inspire many striving to achieve their dreams of academic excellence and that the path he’s charted for himself will serve as a guide for many students facing similar struggles. To help others achieve whatever they set their minds to, Kuehl left folks with a few pearls of wisdom.
“Celebrate your abilities. Live your life with ambition and pride,” Kuehl said, “Yes, I am the very first person to graduate here, but I’m not going to be the last.”
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You can also watch a video about Dylan Kuehl’s amazing story below.
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Sources:
- “Man Becomes First Graduate Of His College With Down Syndrome And Writes History” Apost.