When 11th‑grade student Dusty Larson signed up for a welding boot camp in Ashtabula County, he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Dusty had grown up around his family’s trucking business and assumed that trucking would simply become his path too. But he also knew that their fleet required regular welding repairs—and he was curious. With support from the GRIT Project, and through the Future Plans assessment and coaching process, Dusty found more than a new skill. He found direction, confidence, and a sense of possibility.
What happened next surprised everyone—including Dusty.
During a celebration lunch at the end of the boot camp, Dusty’s instructors and GRIT coaches proudly shared that he had achieved all six welding certifications offered through the program—in just two months. Welding certifications are lifetime credentials that no one can take away, opening doors to high‑demand, high‑wage opportunities immediately after high school.
According to Debi Zander and Shae Ballard, who lead the youth technical programs in Ashtabula County, Dusty was a standout participant—not just because of his skills, but because of his determination.
“He worked really hard for his certifications,” Debi shared. “He didn’t know what to expect at first, but he connected deeply with our welding instructor. Dusty filled up that welding lab with his presence, and he was so genuinely thankful for the opportunity.”
During the celebration, Dusty held up a bright yellow paper on which he had written:
“5 certs in 5 weeks so far. Thank you for my future.”
He even achieved one more certification after writing it.
A Program That Meets Students Where They Are
The Future Plans toolkit —assess, coach, discover, prepare, place—helps students identify their strengths, align their skills with real opportunities, and get hands‑on experience in high‑demand fields. For students like Dusty, this structure provides clarity, confidence, and a step‑by‑step pathway toward a stable career.
Dusty completed the Future Plans assessment, participated in one‑on‑one coaching, and enrolled in the welded-focused boot camp with clear goals and a supportive team behind him.
His welding instructor—a seasoned tradesman who “identifies with this community of students” as Debi described—played a major role in shaping the experience. For Dusty, that connection mattered.
“I thought the instructor was great,” Dusty said. “I loved the program and hope you have it again before I graduate.”
A Mother’s Pride
For Dusty’s family, the transformation was evident.
His mother, Michele Lemons, shared just how meaningful the boot camp had been:
“I feel the GRIT Boot Camp was a blessing for my son. He took his own initiative to sign up for it, and it gave him something to look forward to for his future endeavors.”
Her words reflect a key aspect of Dusty’s success: he chose this path for himself. The program empowered him—not by making decisions for him, but by giving him the tools, guidance, and experiences to understand what he wanted his future to look like.
Opening Doors—and Futures
Dusty’s story is one example of how the GRIT Project and Future Plans help students discover their strengths and overcome barriers that may have limited their paths. For some students, those barriers are academic. For others, they’re confidence, limited exposure to career possibilities, or a lack of hands‑on opportunities.
By giving students real credentials, career‑aligned training, and personal coaching, the program doesn’t just prepare them for jobs—it helps them develop purpose.
Dusty now holds six lifetime certifications that can lead to immediate employment, future advancement within his family’s business, or additional training after graduation. Most importantly, he gained something deeper: belief in himself and excitement for what comes next.
And that’s exactly what the GRIT Project is designed to do—unlock potential, open doors, and help young people build futures they’re proud of.
