Meet Dondi Burroughs: Totally Turning It Around

A few years ago, 30-something Dondi Burroughs didn't know what he was doing. He had no direction and the things he was trying to do weren't working out.

He began teaching in Job Corps and soon thereafter, at age 40, made his own way back to school. A year ago he founded his own motorcycle clothing company, Don. B. Dondi graduates with his BBA with a concentration in International Business from AIU Online in four weeks and, because he has found his AIU classes to be immediately practical to his clothing business, he plans to start right into a Master's degree program in the same area.

While Dondi enjoyed teaching in Job Corps, he is focusing on Don. B these days. (Not completely able to distance himself from helping others, Dondi recently wrote a self-help book for teens which has been published and is available on Authorhouse.com, does a motivational, pro-education teen-targeted TV show shown in three markets around the country, and speaks about gangs, drugs and public health in schools around his Atlanta home.)

"I miss the teaching, but starting my own business is every bit as challenging." Dondi says he couldn't do it without AIU Online though.

"I had no idea what a business plan or strategic marketing or financial affidavits were before AIU. Now I not only know what they are, but I can do them myself. Lots of other entrepreneurs have to hire people to do those things, but, thanks to AIU, I can do them all myself. It is saving me hundreds of thousands of dollars. I've shown my business plan and marketing strategy to investors in Israel and Europe and they love them. They can't believe I'm able to do everything myself."

Dondi says it's not just the international business classes he's finding useful. "My Psychology classes have taught me how to deal with people and the international feel of AIU in all my classes helps me to better understand other nationalities. Really, I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm learning absolutely everything I need to through AIU Online. Every class I have taken has gotten me one step ahead in my own business. I can see clearly now that school helps open your mind in so many ways."

Although Dondi feels confident and comfortable at AIU Online now, that wasn't always the case. "Of course I was nervous about going back to school when I was so old. A good friend of mind said, 'You fear what you don't understand.' Finally I decided I didn't want to be afraid and just went for it. The first year was kind of hard, but as I kept going, it got easier and easier."

Dondi settled upon AIU because his sister-in-law was enrolled and loved it. "She had tried a few other schools before AIU and hadn't liked any of them. When I heard she finally found one she liked, I knew it had to be really good."

I'm so interested in seeing how every new class is going to open my mind to broader things and advance my thinking. That's why I'm not giving myself any break before I start in on my Master's."

"I feel good about myself now. I had wanted to end it all, but now I know I have something to live for. Trusting in God was the first thing before anything and, after that, things fell into place. Now, AIU Online is around to help me reach my goals and is also helping me to be a better person."

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