From island heat to Vermont Snow: How VSAC’s GEAR UP Helped OJ Daring Find His Future

“I’ve always been interested in videos and editing,” OJ Daring says. “In high school, I used to edit all kinds of things, making shorts just for fun. That’s when I started thinking maybe I could actually do this as a career.”

His curiosity led him to enroll in Burlington Technical Center, where he was able to explore film a little more. “Being at the tech center gave me space to get better and enjoy it. I was surrounded by people who were into the same things—making projects, learning the equipment, working on technical assignments. It felt like the right fit.”

Now a senior at Champlain College, OJ is double majoring in film and finance. “Film was always my main focus. Finance came in because money is always in the back of my mind. If I want to start a business or just understand how things work, that’s going to help me.”

From Jamaica to Vermont

OJ came to Vermont from Jamaica when he was eight years old to live with his dad. “I moved here in the summer, and it was so mild. Then winter came,” he says, laughing. “The first year you see the snow, you get the eggnog. You’re amazed. Three years into it, the shine starts to wear off. Snowstorms, all the layers—and I was still cold even with all the gear! That’s when I got into cozy culture. My favorite thing to do is watch Christmas movies.”

High school was where OJ started testing out his interests. “I was in leadership programs and ran track. At the tech center, I worked on short projects, learned how to use the equipment, and really got into storytelling through film. My advisor Jason talked to me about different paths—traditional college programs or the independent route, like making music videos or filming for businesses. I ended up going the traditional route with my education, but I still do independent projects on the side.”

Those side projects turned into real work experience.

I’ve filmed campaign videos, events, and projects for individuals and businesses. I’ve worked for Champlain’s marketing department. Right now, I’m interning with a real estate company doing video tours of their listings.

Early College through Community College of Vermont also gave him a boost. “I graduated during COVID, but I already had more than 25 college credits. That made it easier to double major at Champlain, since a lot transferred.”

Support from GEAR UP

OJ’s family was very supportive of his dreams. “In the Caribbean, you take school seriously,” he says.

My mom is a nurse with a master’s degree, and she was very focused on me doing well. She always told me I needed to figure out what I was going to do and where I was going to study. My dad didn’t go to college—he works for the City of Winooski—but he wanted me to do something. He wasn’t going to tell me what, but he wanted me to do something.

Yet, OJ didn’t exactly know where to start and took things one step at a time. He took part in VSAC’s GEAR UP program, and that’s where his VSAC counselor came in. “GEAR UP was one of the biggest supports for me,” he says. “Starting in eighth grade, I had an advisor who talked to me about loans, tuition sticker price, internships, study abroad, all of that. They put me in the right mindset and helped me stay on track. If I was doing it on my own, I might have figured some of it out, but I wouldn’t have come as far. They supported me so much.”

GEAR UP, short for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, places counselors in schools to help students—especially in underserved communities—prepare for education and training after high school. VSAC has run the program in Vermont for decades.

OJ describes the GEAR UP workshops as especially helpful. “We did workshops on financial literacy, college applications, FAFSA—everything. FAFSA has a handful of questions that don’t feel super direct, and GEAR UP helped me figure them out. They made it easy to fill it all out and feel confident. They also had dedicated FAFSA nights where you could get help right on the spot.”

The support continues even now. “GEAR UP still helps me review my financial aid package every year. And they help with other things too, like paying for books. This semester, my book list was really expensive, and GEAR UP stepped in. It really makes a difference,” he says.

Champlain College ticked all the boxes

When it came time to choose a college, OJ relied on the network of support he had built. “They helped me understand loans, the whole Early College process so I could earn credits while in high school, and what to look for in a college.”

He toured colleges in Vermont, Boston, and Syracuse—some with the help of VSAC. “If I didn’t have that support, I would have had way more questions, and I would have been a lot more stressed. The hardest part was just waiting for responses. But when Champlain came back with an offer, it ticked all the boxes—study abroad, internships, and the programs I wanted. I still think it was the best decision.”

One of the highlights of OJ’s college experience was his recent study abroad opportunity in New Zealand. “I’m jealous of myself three months ago,” he says.

It was a totally different environment than I’m used to. I took a media and perspectives class from a New Zealand point of view, and a business class where I got to see what was similar and different compared to Burlington. It gave me a new perspective on film and business, but also on life in general.

Study abroad opportunities were a priority for OJ when he applied to college and the experience he had with Champlain exceeded his expectations.

Aiming his lens to the world

Now in his final year at Champlain, OJ is open to where his path will take him. “I have a lot of different ideas. Hollywood has always been the dream, but I could also see myself going the niche route—working in marketing for a company, or starting a business of my own. I want to be able to support myself, and I’ll see where I am at the end of next year.”

In the meantime, he’s staying active on campus as a member of the GEAR UP alumni committee.  

Looking back, OJ says the support made all the difference. “The process was smooth for me because of VSAC and GEAR UP. If I didn’t have that, I would have had a harder time. They helped me through the confusion, answered my questions, and made me feel confident.”