Destini Pimental grew up believing it was her responsibility to help those in need. Her mother cleaned on her hands and knees to earn enough money to get her nursing license, yet came home every day to cook dinner for her children. When she took Pimental to nursing homes to visit the residents, it was understood that each resident was just as valuable as she was. The question “How do I help this person?” was the first thing the Pimental kids were instructed to ask.
“It was ingrained early in my childhood that you care for those around you,” Pimental said, thinking back.
When Pimental was born, doctors insisted that she wouldn’t survive. But her mom was determined that her baby girl was going to make it. The same passion has driven Pimental forward every day since.
As soon as she reached high school, Pimental applied to Culver Academy, a college preparatory boarding school. She prepared for the school devotedly, determined to prove that she belonged. “I was not the smartest kid when I applied to Culver,” Pimental said. “But I told the admissions counselor, ‘If you let me into this school, I will take off running.’ I had my family’s support, but many other kids don’t have that. If someone else has paved the way for me, I’m going to pave the way for whoever needs it next,” she said.
Pimental graduated high school and received a full-ride scholarship to a private university in Indiana. Unfortunately, her scholarship fell through and she was forced to drop out of the program.
“Those who know me know that school is my thing,” Pimental said. “But I decided that if I couldn’t do school, I would be the best worker that I could be. So I worked endlessly until I received an email from Grace College.”
After Pimental applied and was accepted, she started commuting two hours to Grace and two hours back almost every day. At first, Pimental was nervous that she wouldn’t make friends because she was older than most of her classmates pursuing the political science and pre-law program. But when she joined the mediation team led by Dr. Norris, she met some of her best friends, including Fortee Williams.