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Plotting course to diploma


DUSTY DAVIS Messenger photo by Richard Greene

When Dusty Davis picked up the TI-84 in sixth grade and realized the potential of the graphing calculator, he found himself plotting a new path for his education journey.

“It was really enchanting. Whenever you get your hands on it and start typing on it, you’re like ‘Oh, hey, this is cool.’ And then you just start testing yourself to see how far you can take it,” Davis said.

Davis’ problem solving never stopped, adding a UIL computer science state championship this year and closing in on an associate’s degree as he graduates from Slidell High School. Along the way, different variables made completing the equation a little more difficult, including multiple surgeries in the past two years.

Davis was not deterred, relying on his realistic problem-solving approach to any challenge.

“Don’t pray for an easy life. Pray to be stronger is what I’ve learned,” Davis said.

His approach to any challenge and obstacle has earned the admiration of his peers and the Slidell staff. Slidell ISD Superintendent Taylor Williams had him as a student in fifth grade.

“Dusty has been a huge asset to Slidell ISD since he was young. He has such a unique vantage point to everything,” Williams said. “His mind is amazing, the way he views things. His perspective is well beyond his years.”

As a freshman, Davis suffered a dislocated knee just walking.

“It was the most painful experience. It was horrible getting back up and getting it back into place,” Davis explained.

It happened again the following school year, prompting surgery.

“The nerve damage just racked up to where I can’t really feel much pain and dislocation anymore,” Davis said.

Last year, Davis also battled cholesteatoma in his ear. The aggressive cyst can lead to erosion of bones in the ear and eventual hearing loss.

“It was like a tumor just eating away at the bones in my ear. I have reduced hearing in one [ear],” Davis said.

Through the various surgeries, he found a positive.

“Those surgeries put me in a position to just study,” Davis said. “I learned to take it more seriously and not just breeze through like I did.”

As a senior, Davis served as captain of the computer science team. The grueling event tests contestants’ knowledge with a multiple choice test and then programming.

“As the captain, I had to step in and help and give the team direction,” he explained.

The team of Davis, Ashton Champagne, Warren Johnson and Easton Vanover captured the Class A title earlier this month.

“All the years of hard work paid off. They’ve all worked really hard. I was so proud of them,” Davis said.

He’s proud of the legacy he and his teammates have left.

“I hope kids in the future look back on us and say, ‘I can do that, or maybe I can do better,'” Davis said.

Davis is heading to North Central Texas College to finish out the few classes remaining to earn his associate’s. He plans to then pursue a bachelor’s or master’s in computer engineering.

No matter how far his journey goes, he’ll remember how it started in Scott McGregor’s math class with a simple calculation.

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