When students find the right opportunity, everything can change — and that’s exactly what happened for Samuel Comstock, a participant in the Technology track (Ethical Hacking) at the GRIT Bear Tracks Summer Program at Shawnee State University.
His mother, Janell Comstock, shared the following powerful story about her son’s transformation:
“Sometimes all our children need is the right opportunity to discover their passion—GRIT provided exactly that for Samuel.”
– Janell Comstock, Parent
A Parent’s Perspective:
Submitted by Janell Comstock
As a parent, watching your child struggle to find their path can be heartbreaking. My youngest son Samuel had always been uncertain about his future—he had no clear direction for what he wanted to do after high school, and I honestly thought he’d skip college altogether and jump straight into the workforce.
When the opportunity arose for Samuel to attend the GRIT Summer Program at Shawnee State University for Ethical Hacking, I encouraged him to apply, though he was clearly apprehensive and nervous about the whole thing. After much deliberation, he agreed to give it a try. On Sunday, June 1st, 2025, as I helped him move into his dorm, his parting words to me were telling: “If I don’t like this, I can come home, right?”
Two weeks later, the young man who walked through my door on Friday, June 13th, was completely transformed. The change was immediately visible—his face lit up with excitement, his entire body language radiated confidence and enthusiasm. Despite arriving home at midnight, he couldn’t wait to pull out his laptop and show me everything he had learned. He was like a child on Christmas morning, eager to share his newfound knowledge and tell me about all the friends he’d made.
What struck me most was his genuine excitement about the possibility of having a career in “breaking into companies’ computers”—ethical hacking had captured his imagination in a way I’d never seen before. After spending just one weekend at home, he was eager to return for the Reverse Job Fair, thrilled about his newfound independence and absolutely loving his coursework. For the first time, he’s seriously considering continuing his education, specifically looking at Shawnee State’s Cybersecurity program for the fall.
In just two short weeks, my son went from saying “eh, I don’t know if I can do this or want to do this” to excitedly telling me “Hey mom, look at this! This is pretty cool. I’m having fun, and I think I know what I want to do.” The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
The GRIT Summer Program offers students an invaluable opportunity to explore their interests and discover potential career paths in a supportive, hands-on environment. As a parent, I can personally attest to the incredible impact this program has had on my son. The exposure and experience these young people receive is truly amazing, and I would recommend this program to any parent whose child is searching for direction and purpose.
Sometimes all our children need is the right opportunity to discover their passion—GRIT provided exactly that for Samuel.
– Janell Comstock
Samuel’s story is a testament to the power of hands-on career exploration and the importance of creating spaces where students can discover what drives them. We’re proud of Samuel and excited to cheer him on as he enters Shawnee State University this fall to study Cybersecurity — a future he discovered through Bear Tracks and support of The GRIT Project.