Our next graduate spotlight from O’Fallon Township High School is Brenton Hunter.

This fall, Brenton will be attending SIUE to study International Business.

When reflecting on the most impactful part of his CEO experience, Brenton shared that building his own business challenged him in ways he never expected.

“The most impactful CEO experience I had this year was starting my own business. I had many doubts about starting my business, and I had no idea which direction I would go in. This entire process has taught me so much about myself, and it has taught me many valuable lessons I will use for life.”

One of the biggest areas of growth for Brenton was learning to adapt when things didn’t go according to plan.

“This year I grew in the area of adaptability. I’m a very Type A person, and I don’t like sudden change. I had to learn how to get comfortable with pivoting and going in new directions quickly and efficiently.”

As he reflected on the year, Brenton also recognized something important about himself:

“I now understand that I am extremely resilient, and I can overcome any challenge that comes my way.”

Brenton was also quick to recognize the people who helped make his year successful, especially his mentor, Dr Leslie Davis.

“Our program would not be possible without our investors, mentors, and the people who thought our area needed this program. Dr. Leslie Davis is the greatest mentor I could have ever asked for. She’s like my mentor, mom, and cheerleader all in one, and she has helped me in so many ways. Whenever I needed to talk, she was always there and she made time for me during her busy work schedule.”

He also expressed gratitude for the support he received at home.

“I want to thank my parents for supporting me throughout this school year. Without them pushing me to strive for greatness, I wouldn’t have applied for this program, and I wouldn’t have accomplished everything I did this year without them.”

One thing I appreciate about Brenton is his willingness to embrace challenges, even when the path forward isn’t completely clear. Congratulations, Brenton. We are excited to see all that you’ll accomplish at SIUE and beyond.