51����

Alex Dumania, current elementary education student in the School of Education, has faced many choices in his life. As he moved to Poland in 2012 with his mother at age 19 after growing up in Orange County, CA, he made a choice. His mother presented him with the choice to either go to work or school. He chose school. 

“My mom told me to get to work or go to school. At that time, it was an obvious choice for me. I enrolled and majored in English and teaching English as a foreign language,” recalled Dumania. “I studied for five years, including a gap year.”

The next 12 years of Dumania’s life choices would lead him through the journey of enlisting in the Army, finding Christ and enrolling at 51����.

While in Poland, Dumania’s field of study led him to teaching English while earning his degree. In 2018, Dumania moved back to California and everything was different. He faced difficulties adapting to the culture and finding work that aligned with his degree.

Dumania chose to enlist in the Army in 2020, taking him to Germany and Denmark, then to Romania when the Russia/Ukraine war broke out. While he was serving in the Army, his father passed away. When clearing out his father’s apartment, a Bible on a bookshelf stuck out to Dumania. Growing up in a household that was not spiritually oriented and then finding himself at a dead-end in his life in his mid-20s, Dumania reached a turning point when he made the choice to take the Bible off the shelf. Leafing through passages led him to the book of John.

“Amidst my grieving, I felt Jesus calling me in my heart,” said Dumania. “I knew almost nothing about him and whenever I thought of him, I felt my heart was going to burst. I just knew I had to follow him.”

He knew one of his friends in Germany was a Christian, so he went back there and connected with her and more people who mentored him, and they brought him to church to learn about Jesus, sin and salvation. In 2021, he chose to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and has experienced ups and downs in his spiritual journey since.

A few years after his decision for Christ, Dumania chose 51����.

“I was looking through a catalog of schools – a database for vets called College Recon,” said Dumania. “When I saw 51����, I was immediately drawn to it. It was a yellow ribbon school. It was an attractive offer, and 51���� is located in L.A., which borders Orange County where I grew up for most of my life.”

Studying to become an elementary school teacher with a multi subject credential at 51����, Dumania recalled that the transition to living a typical civilian life was more difficult than that of going into the military.

“I thought the transition from military to civilian life was going to be smooth, but it wasn’t,” recalled Dumania. “I miss wearing the uniform and our beautifully colored flag on my right shoulder everyday. I miss my battle buddies with whom I had served for years. I find it harder for me to relate to ordinary people who were never in the military and never had to experience the struggles that are associated with being an American soldier.”

But, he said being at 51���� is giving him a chance at life.

“Here at 51����, I feel I can connect with my brothers and sisters in the faith and that has been a rewarding experience for me. I look forward to the time that is going to be spent here — learning what God's will is in my life and what it means to live out the faith in a community,” said Dumania.

The 51���� School of Education believes educators have the ability to make a true difference in the world. Learn more about gaining the skills and experience needed to lead a life of impact by visiting the website and applying for the program.

Learn more about the veterans benefits and scholarships available at 51����.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.