“I Have Choices Now”: Sam’s Duet Story

Sam Campbell clearly remembers the first team meeting he attended after being hired by the Boston Plan for Excellence (BPE). His new colleagues introduced themselves and shared their names and degrees. When it was his turn, he simply said: “I’m Sam.” 

He remembers how embarrassed he felt that he had never earned a college degree. “I didn’t want to be in that situation ever again,” he said.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. Sam had enrolled in college six times at four different institutions, starting at 18 and continuing into his late 40s. He was bright and driven but each time he tried, life got in the way. Work and family responsibilities were incompatible with the rigid structures of college. He had to attend school part-time and taking one class at a time left him feeling like he’d never get to where he needed to go.

His father, a Baptist preacher and a professor at Boston University, always believed in his potential and encouraged him to keep trying. But with each failed attempt, the pressure mounted. “The more I tried, the more discouraged I felt,” Sam recalled.

It was at his new role at BPE that he decided to give it one more shot. He was thriving in his role, working with students and shaping school culture. But he had no path to promotion because he didn’t have a degree. His colleagues suggested he check out Duet.

When he visited Duet’s downtown Boston student center, he felt a spark of hope.

The flexibility of the program meant he could fit school around his career and personal life. “I remember the team telling me, ‘You do Duet when you do Duet,’” Sam said. “That made me feel like I could actually do it.”

“I remember the team telling me, ‘You do Duet when you do Duet’. That made me feel like I could actually do it.”

Sam jumped right into the program and earned his associate degree and then his bachelor’s degree. With his bachelor’s in hand, Sam was able to officially step into the Dean of Students role at BPE’s Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School. He’s since moved into his current position as the school’s Director of Culture and Climate.

Now, instead of worrying if he’ll ever graduate, Sam is thinking about what’s next: a master’s in education or perhaps a theology degree to pursue ordination as a minister.

“I have choices now,” Sam said. “That’s the best part.”