During his first couple of years at Gustavus, now senior Daniel Felton went through many of the normal doubts about his decision to attend the College. Social issues coupled with the rigor of academia and desire to fit in seemed to tell him that another college may have been a better fit. But as soon as he found the courage to dance to his own beat, realizing that others would dance along with him, Daniel’s doubts disappeared.

“He is avidly involved in a variety of organizations on campus and he excels in each one. With everything that Daniel is involved in, he puts his whole heart into it and makes it a part of his life.”—Kadie Habana

“I started to realize that just because people may be looking at me, doesn’t mean that they’re looking down at me. So I started being comfortable just being myself and dancing whenever I felt like it. Then, once I started dancing and had experiences where people would dance along with me, I learned a really important lesson about perseverance. I couldn’t be happier I chose to stay at Gustavus,” Daniel said.

During his junior year, Daniel decided that he didn’t want to blend in. He wanted to be known more than just the guy who played saxophone in the jazz band; he wanted to be remembered for his character and the differences he made on campus.

“I decided to be the best me that I could be. I had so many dress clothes and I thought ‘why not start wearing them,’ not to impress people but because it made me more confident. I started to follow through with ideas I’d been having, get more involved, and inspire people like upper classmen had inspired me,” Daniel said.

A year later, he’s continued this promise to himself and impacted many with his positive personality.

“His personality is so vibrant. If your relationship with Daniel is anywhere from a good friend to someone he’s met one time, or anywhere in between, and you seen him on campus, you’ll receive the most energetic greeting always accompanied by his big ol’ welcoming ‘Daniel smile,’” Senior Kadie Habana said.

Daniel’s also become an involved member of the Gustavus community. He’s a member of the Pan-Afrikan Student Organization (PASO), Jazz Lab Band, Gustavus choir, as well as a peer educator.

“Daniel plays a huge role in the Gustavus community. He is avidly involved in a variety of organizations on campus and he excels in each one. With everything that Daniel is involved in, he puts his whole heart into it and makes it a part of his life. He is also always working to connect people and create a loving and welcoming community at Gustavus,” Habana said.

“I started to get more involved, and inspire people like upper classmen had inspired me.”—Daniel Felton

As he continues his music education major, Daniel hopes to fulfill his dream of opening his own school for music and allow students to study their own specialized skills. As for the time he has left at Gustavus, he wants to continue to be involved and inspire people to have confidence in themselves and their abilities. When asked if he had any advice to pass down, his answer served as a testament to his happy go lucky personality.

“You can never have too many cookies. But seriously, I want everyone to find the confidence to be themselves,” Daniel said.

Those who know Daniel can agree that he’s made the most of his time at Gustavus.

“He embodies our five core value’s. He’s concerned about justice and doesn’t just talk but he also acts on those concerns. He is always fun to be around and is thoughtful and insightful. He’s truly made our campus better during his four years and is very deserving of Gustie of the Week,” Senior Donte Curtis said.

-Jaurdyn Dobler