David Deskin remembers being “that student.” The one who was comfortable making bad choices just to fit in.

Poor decisions, coupled with skipping school, hanging with the wrong crowd and even multiple school suspensions, ultimately led to his removal from high school.

His mother refused to allow him to become another statistic. Recent figures show a three-year reduction in annual school dropouts to just over 4 percent, or roughly 8,500 students per year, according to the Oklahoma Department of Education.

In 2017, Deskin enrolled in an alternative education and dropout prevention program housed at Canadian Valley Technology Center. Project Connect serves students who have not found success in a traditional school setting. Staff work closely with students to ensure they complete required core classes while rebuilding confidence and direction.

Students spend half of each day in the classroom and the other half in a career and technical education program. This keeps them on track to graduate and provides them with career-ready skills.

“I was resentful and didn’t want to be there,” Deskin said. “I struggled and continued to make mistakes, leading to additional suspensions. Despite that, the teachers and administrators never gave up on me. They saw potential in me even when I didn’t see it in myself.”

Deskin, 24, of Yukon, said watching peers graduate ahead of him became a turning point. He began applying himself and earned mostly A’s by the time he completed the program in 2019.

“None of that would have been possible without the support of the Project Connect teachers,” he said. “They truly gave me a fighting chance, and I will always be grateful. Project Connect helped me realize that I wasn’t alone and that success was genuinely possible for anyone willing to put in the effort.”

Deskin went on to complete CV Tech’s Precision Machining program, applying the foundational knowledge and skills he gained while working as a sheet metal mechanic. After being laid off last spring, he once again leaned into perseverance.

“I’ve always believed that every failure brings me closer to success,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated by how homes are built.”

He committed to saving money, studying relentlessly to pass the state Real Estate exam. Deskin became licensed to sell homes in October and was hired by Bailee & Co. Real Estate.

“I serve clients across the OKC metro area and have closed in Yukon,” he said. “I fully plan to make Real Estate my long-term career. Many would say I’ve found my calling. Helping someone find a home goes far beyond square footage or numbers.

“I’m guiding people through one of the biggest decisions of their lives, where they’ll gather as a family, raise children and create lasting memories. A home is the foundation of family life, and I take that responsibility seriously.”

Deskin married Dessie, whom he met at CV Tech. She is assistant district manager at an area coffee house. The couple has a 3-year-old son and another child on the way.

Looking back, Deskin said he now understands the mindset of students sitting in the same chair he once occupied.

“You think school is boring and unnecessary,” he said. “And that you know what’s best for yourself.

“What I know now, especially as a parent, is that the people you think are against you are actually rooting for you. Your parents, teachers and principals want you to succeed, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. You’ve got this. I believe in you. They believe in you. Now you just have to believe in yourself.”