Dudash Assembly

Chief Dudash and Phantom say "It is okay to not be okay"

By Shane Napier

On May 22, Burrell High School welcomed guest speaker Chief Master Sergeant Eric Dudash and his service dog Phantom for a special assembly. Chief Dudash retired from active duty in the Air Force in 2018 after more than thirty years of military service. He was involved in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, in addition to being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan for hostage rescue and drug interdiction missions.

The main focus of Chief Dudash's speech was mental health and the ability to move forward in life to overcome adversity and trauma. He detailed his own struggles with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, emphasizing that "no day is that bad" and "it's okay to not be okay." Furthermore, he stressed that everyone has weaknesses and that there is nothing wrong with being vulnerable and reaching out to others for help, all while letting his charismatic personality shine through in his rapport with the crowd.

Dr. Boylan in particular was thrilled to have the opportunity for Dudash to speak at school. He was originally going to have Dudash speak to individual classrooms, but eventually opted to have him speak in front of all BHS students due to the potency and importance of his message. When asked for his thoughts on the assembly, Dr. Boylan said that Dudash's message was "timely and needed," adding that "we often get so caught up in the things that are part of our daily lives. However, taking time to prioritize the important people in our lives is what matters most. We all need teammates to support us at various points in our lives. Everybody struggles and we don't need to do it alone!"

Senior Ian Quinn commented that Chief Dudash was "awesome" and "a great guy" with a "great message."

BHS thanks Chief Dudash for both his time and his service to our country.

Photography Contributor: Mrs. Shaffer