A boy named Dustin

In a quiet town where shadows blend, A boy named Dustin learned to mend, Born to a mother, young and alone, With dreams in her heart, but a heavy stone. No father’s hand to guide his way, But a grandfather’s love would light the day, With wisdom deep as the ocean’s tide, He taught the boy to stand with pride. “Integrity, my boy, is worth more than gold, Hard work and honesty, let them unfold. Knowledge is power, a beacon so bright, In the darkest of times, it will be your light.” As the years rolled on, the family grew, With siblings to care for, Dustin always knew, That love was a burden, yet sweet to bear, A great big brother, with a heart laid bare. While his mother worked, he took on the role, Of protector and guide, with a nurturing soul, Though childhood slipped by like sand through his hands, He learned to be strong, to meet life’s demands. Through sleepless nights and endless days, He forged his path in a myriad of ways, With dreams of UGA, he set his sights high, Determined to reach for the limitless sky. But life can be cruel, and fate can be tough, When his grandfather passed, it felt like enough, Yet in every tear, in every sigh, Dustin held on to the lessons that never die. With a heart full of love and a mind set to learn, He pushed through the pain, for his dreams he would yearn, A PhD in hand, he stood tall and proud, Knowing deep down, his grandpa too would be proud. “Look at my boy,” he’d whisper with glee, “From a boy to a man, what a journey to see! You’ve carried the weight, you’ve weathered the storm, In the tapestry of life, you’ve woven your form.” So here’s to Dustin, a beacon of light, A testament to love, to courage, to fight, For in every struggle, in every embrace, He found his own strength, his own sacred space. With integrity, hard work, and knowledge in hand, He'll walk through the world, a proud and noble man.