Where Are They Now: Isaac Turns Opportunity into Purpose

When Isaac looks at the life he’s built—a career he loves, a growing family, and a strong sense of purpose—he sees the steady influence of his years at Dominion Christian School woven through every part of his story.

“Dominion wasn’t just a school,” Isaac says. “It was family.”

Life looks full and steady now, but for Isaac and his family, the path here wasn’t always easy. When Isaac was just 12 years old, he lost his father. That loss reshaped his world and made his school community all the more important. Dominion became more than a place to learn; it became a second home.

“Dominion is such a special school,” Isaac says. “It wasn’t like your average private school. The teachers took the time to make connections. They really cared. When I lost my dad, having those male teachers around really made an impact, because they knew our story. They coached me, mentored me, and helped me when I struggled.”

At Dominion, Isaac learned the kind of leadership that lasts: one built on humility, hard work, and gratitude. He discovered his own strengths, developed confidence, and found mentors who helped him grow not just academically but personally. And after years of support, guidance, and perseverance, Isaac proudly graduated from Dominion Christian School in 2020; an achievement that marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

He remembers how patient his teachers were, especially during difficult times. “If I did poorly on a test, they didn’t just assume I wasn’t trying,” he says. “They’d sit down with me and really took the time to teach me in a way I could understand. They genuinely cared about helping me succeed.”

Those relationships built both confidence and resilience. “It was good because they cared enough not to just say, ‘If he fails, it’s on him,’” Isaac says. “They poured into me. They taught me how to learn, not just how to pass.”

Those lessons carried him well beyond the classroom. Today, Isaac is the warehouse manager for a local company in Atlanta, where he’s thriving, leading a team, and gaining new skills every day. He’s also taking on more responsibility within the company, learning the business from the inside out, and working toward an incredible long-term goal—becoming a part-owner one day.

“It’s been a blessing to work for a company that gives me opportunities to learn, grow, and lead,” he says. “A lot of what I do now—working with people, solving problems, staying motivated—it all goes back to the lessons I learned at Dominion.”

Life outside of work is also full. Isaac is now a husband and a father to a young daughter whom he hopes will grow up with the same sense of confidence, character, and foundation of faith that shaped him. “I’ve got one daughter, and everything I do now is with her in mind,” he shares. “My goal is to give her stability, values, and opportunities. I want her to see what’s possible when you work hard and when people invest in you, the way Arete and Dominion invested in me.”

Isaac credits his mom and Arete Scholars for opening the doors that made his own path possible. His mother worked tirelessly to provide stability after his father’s death, and Arete Scholars helped ease that burden. “From my mom’s perspective, I think that’s where the scholarship meant the most,” he says. “She wanted us to go to a good school, but she couldn’t have done it on her own. Arete made it possible.”

Isaac says his mom prayed for a way to keep her children in a safe, faith-filled environment. “She really prayed for it, and Arete popped up,” he recalls. “It was all God that we landed with Arete. Seeing how much peace she had after that meant everything. Dominion met her halfway, and she basically didn’t have to pay anything for us to go. All four of us siblings went to private school for six years. That’s crazy when I think about it.”

Watching his mother’s peace and gratitude helped Isaac understand the true value of opportunity. “When I was in middle school, I didn’t really think about it much,” he admits. “But in high school, my mom started sharing more about how we were able to attend. I realized no one else in my class had that opportunity. I definitely took it for granted when I was younger, but now I see how much it meant.”

Last year, Isaac attended an Arete Scholars event where he met donors and supporters for the first time. “That was so influential,” he says. “I didn’t realize how much went into it. Seeing everyone who contributes, it hit me how big of a deal this is. Without them, I wouldn’t have had those mentors or those experiences.”

Those mentors, he says, shaped who he is today. “I’d like to thank the donors for helping shape my path,” Isaac says. “Because of Arete, I had mentors who poured into me. I wouldn’t have experienced any of that without Arete.”

Now, Isaac is paying it forward through the way he leads and lives; with gratitude, optimism, and a belief that anything is possible with the right support and heart.

“Looking back,” Isaac says, “I can see how every challenge built me into who I am. I’m thankful for every teacher, every opportunity, and every person who believed in me. That’s what keeps me going—and that’s why I want to do the same for others.”

For Isaac, what began as a scholarship became a turning point; a bridge between hardship and hope. “If it wasn’t for Arete, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he says. “It gave me teachers who cared, mentors who believed in me, and a place where I could grow into who I was meant to be.”

And now, with a daughter watching him, he’s building a future rooted in the same values—faith, perseverance, and opportunity—that helped shape his own.