The Keeper of the Dream Award recognizes outstanding students who have helped foster interracial understanding and goodwill. Through reflecting on the needs of their own communities, recipients of the award aim to help those less fortunate achieve their full potential. As a student leader and peer mentor, A’Miya Dural trusts her own faith and encourages those around her to recognize their potential in whatever path they follow.
Dural is currently a junior majoring in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences specializing in Pre-Physician’s Assistant. Like many recipients of the award, Dural heard about the opportunity while working at the Center for Multicultural Initiatives. As she worked there, she became aware of many friends and co-workers whose lives benefited from receiving the award.
“I would say a viable contender for this award is someone with a heart for pushing toward change and community in our society regarding how minority groups are treated,” Dural said. “One cannot just apply for the opportunity or for the money; they have to be actively working to change the narrative that oppressors have been trying to make a reality for underrepresented groups.”
When not guiding students through Oakland University, Dural also takes time to volunteer as a way to give back to the community. In particular, she leads bible studies and has relied on her faith in her journey of helping those in need.
“My ‘short-term’ plans are to make sure that I am glorifying God in everything that I do and also giving back to the community in some way, whether that be through ministry, influencing, community service, nonprofit, etc.,” Dural said. “When applying for this award, Jesus was my full support system, and my close friends, who were rooting for me, were also my biggest support.”
Outside of her faith, Dural relied on the Career and Life Design Center at Oakland University to help present the truest version of herself for the interview.
“I had two appointments with the Career and Life Design Center when preparing for the interview,” Dural said. “One appointment was to review the interview’s foundational aspects and how to break everything down, and the other was an actual mock interview, which helped a lot with the feedback received.”
Dural recalls the moment she opened the letter revealing she was named a recipient of the Keeper of the Dream Award.
“I remember opening the envelope in my car and screaming at the top of my lungs,” Dural said. “Immediately began to thank Jesus because trusting Him was the only reason I could be equipped enough to win the award. After processing the letter, I felt like everything I had been through was for a reason. Although I didn’t need this award to come to this revelation, I was happy that my story can inspire and motivate those who have experienced similar things; it could show them that I made it through those feelings and experiences, and so can you too.”
For more information on the award and other opportunities the CMI provides, visit the CMI OU webpage.
