Daniel Leslie has never been one to let setbacks keep him down for long. Whether he is proving to the BYU Admissions Office that he deserves to attend the university after being denied or earning multiple degrees while adjusting to life as a quadriplegic, Leslie has not allowed circumstances to determine his direction. Now an alumnus of the School of Accountancy (SOA) at BYU Marriott, Leslie is an example of the incredible things that can be accomplished when one perseveres and is willing to pivot their life plans.
A self-proclaimed rebel, Leslie wasn’t always concerned about his academic future. However, after returning home to Colorado from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia, Leslie decided he wanted to seriously pursue his education and attend BYU. Those plans were frustrated when he applied to BYU and was not accepted.
However, rejection didn’t stop Leslie, and he devised a plan to obtain acceptance. He determined to take some of BYU’s most difficult courses during summer term open enrollment, excel in those classes, and then bring his glowing grades to the admissions office and petition for admission. His plan worked, and by the end of the summer, Leslie was ready to begin his official BYU career.
During that first year, Leslie became aware of the university’s speech and debate club. “I started chatting with members of the club, and they seemed smart, so I started attending their meetings,” says Leslie. “People in the club were all doing things like going to law school, so I decided I was going to go to law school too.”
In summer 2004, while preparing to apply to the accounting program, Leslie was swimming at a friend’s pool when he dove into shallow water, hit his head, and broke his neck, dislocating his third and fourth cervical vertebrae. The incident left Leslie paralyzed, and his plans abruptly changed as he returned home to Colorado to be with his family and spend time at a rehab facility specializing in spinal cord injuries.
After a yearlong hiatus in which he continued to learn how to pivot—both in his wheelchair and in life—Leslie returned to BYU Marriott with his typical determination. Although the accounting program’s junior core was difficult for him as he adjusted to his new situation, professors and team members rallied around him.
“My hands are paralyzed, so I need help with everything from opening doors to pulling out my laptop and setting it up,” says Leslie. “My friends in the accounting program did that every single day.”
As Leslie was finishing his bachelor’s degree, he was given the option of completing another year to receive his MAcc. “I thought, ‘Just one more year for a master’s degree? Sure,’” says Leslie.
Leslie graduated with his MAcc in 2008 then headed to Duke University of Law. In 2011, Leslie began working with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Corporation Finance as a securities lawyer.
Even before his swimming accident, Leslie had shown his determination, optimism, and adaptability. These traits have proven to be even more valuable as he has continued to progress through his life—a life that has been anything but ordinary.
_____
Written by Zelle Harris
