Serving others
09/23/2020
Darian Greenly
Darian Greeley鈥檚 goal is to give back
In his final year at 小优传媒, Darian Greeley鈥檚 goal is to give back. The senior criminal justice major from Detroit, Mich., was recently named president of Bluffton鈥檚 Multicultural Student Organization.
鈥淚鈥檓 a big believer in giving back to the community,鈥 said Greeley. 鈥淲e have goals for the group to get out and do more community work. We鈥檙e a family, and I want everybody to see that before I leave.鈥
Greeley鈥檚 goal as the MSO leader is also in line with his long-term professional goals.
鈥淢y big goal is to one day have a non-profit organization as a way to give back to the people in my community,鈥 explained Greeley.
Until then, Greeley is serving as a resident advisor in Hirschy Annex and is a 4-year member of the Bluffton football team. This fall, he鈥檚 gaining practical experience in his field by completing an internship with the Bluffton (Village) Police Department. Over the summer, he also interned with the Belleville (Mich.) Police Department, and he previously volunteered at the Allen County Juvenile Detention Center.
鈥淢y favorite experience was working with the kids,鈥 said Greeley. 鈥淲orking with juveniles, I felt like I could understand some of the struggles they鈥檙e going through.鈥
As a running back, Greeley has earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Now, he鈥檚 excited for his senior season, no matter that the majority of the games are scheduled for the spring semester instead of the fall.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just taking it one step at a time like everyone else. I鈥檓 just happy we can play football,鈥 said Greeley.
Greeley, chose Bluffton after meeting the Beavers鈥 previous head coach, Denny Dorrell.
鈥淲hen I first came here, Coach D seemed like a guy that cared about everybody.鈥
And while Greeley plays for Coach Aaron Krepps now, the team remains as close as ever.
鈥淭he best part is just being on the team and the connections you build with people, the bonds you form.鈥
Those bonds extend into the classroom as well. When asked if a specific professor has served as a mentor during his time at Bluffton, he explained that picking just one is tough.
鈥淎 lot of people have helped me and made me the person I am today, Deanna [Barthlow-Potkanowicz, associate professor of psychology], Michael Barrett [assistant professor of criminal justice], Chris [Morrissey, assistant professor of sociology], Perry Bush [professor of history], Kate Spike [assistant professor of English] from my freshman year, Jacqui Slinger [director of academic development services]鈥 said Greeley. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 really choose which one. All played a different role in helping me develop, and I appreciate that.鈥