Thirty-two-year-old Jason Dement is not the typical graduating senior. He did not arrive at DePaul University because it was natural next step in his life or because his parents wanted him to attend school here. He came because of his heart’s desire. Her name is Kristen.

“If it were not for my wife, I would have never had the desire or courage to complete this degree. She is the reason I wake up, the reason I study and the reason I lace up my running shoes day after day,” he said.

The two met in St. Louis while working at Fleet Feet Sports, an athletic store for runners and walkers.

“She was taking the year off to study for her MCAT and ended up working with me,” Dement recalled. “I married the woman of my dreams in 2012, and she provided the motivation I needed to return to school.”

Dement re-enrolled at Lindenwood University on academic probation in pursuit of marketing degree. With a 4.0 GPA, he transferred to DePaul and wound up pursuing an alternative career path after a class with Tim Cole, an associate professor in relational communication in the College of Communication.
“Cole’s charisma in class led to an epiphany,” said Dement. “He satisfied curiosities about life that I'd had for years. I realized that if I can interact with others and understand the exchange that takes place, I can create a need for myself in the world. More often than not, a company is investing in the person, not the degree, and they’re willing to give you every resource you need to succeed. Sometimes you just need to ask for it. This degree taught me how to have those conversations.”

Dement switched majors from marketing to relational communication.

“Having lived in the real world for the past six years, I found the content as a relational communication major refreshing and loaded with opportunity for personal growth,” said Dement.

“I couldn’t have found a more applicable major to benefit me in social, personal and professional life. I now have the ability to interact and understand the reasons people are the way they are.” He said. “Being able to communicate a thought or idea — rather than stubbornly supporting it — is a resourceful skill to have. This degree has given me the confidence to answer the ‘why’ in questions, and that is a strong skill to have.”

The marathon runner and U.S. Air Force veteran that Dement is today would be a stranger to his 22 year-old self.

Just 10 years ago, Dement was 70 pounds overweight and a college dropout.

“I decided that I needed to make a change in my life,” said Dement. “I knew that I lacked discipline and needed a kick in the pants.”

It took a year for Dement to lose the 50 pounds required for him to enlist with the Air Force. He went on to complete two tours in Iraq and became a physical training leader for the 11th Air Support Operations Squadron.

As his days of civilian life began to approach, Dement envisioned a career transition from soldier to fitness. Now, as he graduates with bachelor’s degree in relational communication, Dement plans to use it to advance his position at Fleet Feet and continue to working in the athletics industry.

With the support of his wife, he will continue following his heart.

Written by Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu