Commencement stories: Graduates reflect on their time as Lakers

Jacob Dunham never thought he would one day earn a master's degree. Dunham was the first member of his family to earn a bachelor's degree, and pursuing a master's of business administration in his early 40s while working full-time and raising two kids seemed like a daunting task.

"I was a terrible student in high school. I barely graduated on time. Getting my bachelor's, I thought I had done great, but getting a master's degree was next level," Dunham said.

Dunham has come a long way since his years in high school. It was his history teacher who took the time to tell Dunham what he was capable of if he applied himself and put in the effort. Since then, he has taken it upon himself to prove his teacher right.

After earning his associate's degree from Grand Rapids Community College, Dunham pursued a bachelor's degree at Grand Valley, majoring in public and nonprofit administration. He said he chose Grand Valley because it was where his wife and childhood best friend, Al, earned their degrees.

After graduating from GVSU in 2019, Dunham moved into operations management, including working for the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Dunham's pursuit of an MBA started with Al, a book and a long hike.

Dunham and his friend had taken up rucking, hiking with a weighted backpack. During one of their rucking excursions through Millennium Park in 2024, Dunham and Al discussed a book they had both read that centered on misogi, a Japanese practice modernly adapted as a challenge designed to break comfort zones and push beyond one's perceived limits.

During their conversation, Al challenged them both to come up with their own misogis. Dunham's friend chose to challenge himself to qualify and compete in the Boston Marathon. Dunham challenged himself to take the next step in his education, and as Al began training for marathons, Dunham applied to Grand Valley's MBA program.

To earn his master's, Dunham had to face more than just challenges in the classroom. He turned 40 a few weeks before starting classes, the same age his dad reached before he passed.

"This weird thing happened where I kind of just felt this cloud come over me," Dunham said. "I made it to where my dad made it, and now it's like, how much time do I get beyond that?"

Dunham began experiencing brain fog and anxiety. He leaned on previous experience as a social worker to know the importance of advocating for his mental health. He consulted medical professionals and communicated with his support systems to assist him as he worked through his challenges. He succeeded in his classes, but at times, he said it felt like he was barely holding on.

"I was white-knuckling. I felt like I was having to do the work three times over to be successful," he said.

As he continued to work through his mental health challenges, Dunham received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder. Continuing to work with his support system, he found the right medication and began to see his executive function and focus return.

For Dunham, choosing gratitude was a huge factor in helping him persevere through his mental health challenges. As challenges continued to appear in his pursuit of his MBA, including raising his kids and losing his job, it was gratitude that kept him going.

"The way we approach life in good times isn't nearly as important as the way we approach life in hard times," Dunham said. "Gratitude is one of those things we can choose to engage daily."

Persevering through the trials, Dunham and his friend both accomplished their goals. On April 20, Dunham and his wife flew to Boston to watch Al run in the Boston Marathon. Twelve days later, Al will be in Van Andel Arena to watch Dunham walk across the stage and receive his diploma.

"It's totally full circle," Dunham said. "I feel really fortunate to have people in my life who not only support me, but push me to be the best version of myself."

- By Thomas Chavez