About Adrian Preston Brown
Adrian Preston Brown—Preston, to most, is building his future brick by brick. He was born in Orlando, Florida, and resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Currently a Central Piedmont Community College student, Preston has a 4.0 GPA over two consecutive semesters. But that’s just the number, not the story of family and resistance beneath it.
College can be overwhelming for anyone. Classes, assignments, time management—it’s a lot. For Preston, though, the journey wasn’t linear nor explicit: There were countless obstacles and moments when he didn’t know what’d happen next, yet rather than crumbling under pressure, he focused on what mattered most to him: family.
Family matters most to him. Preston credits them with why he’s still here, showing up, and moving forward. Through all the difficult moments, his family stayed steady and supportive, helping him regain his footing while reminding him of what he could do.
Preston isn’t just a student—he’s a runner who doesn’t just jog for fun. He’s currently training for a marathon, demanding serious time, focus, and endurance. It requires significant time and effort, including consistent long runs, speed work, and strength training, all while managing physical and mental fatigue.
But for Preston, it’s more than physical exertion; it’s a mental release, where he empties his mind, challenges himself, and practices resilience. There’s also something about running, especially marathons, akin to his academic life. It’s slow, unrelenting progress. It’s staying on track and going even when you don’t want to. The finish line doesn’t come any quicker, and that’s fine with him. He’s all about the process, in the classroom or on the road.
Academically, Preston has set himself apart. He is a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, which focuses on high-achieving students at two-year colleges. To him, earning membership into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is more than just the good grades he’s earned. It’s about leadership, service, and integrity—key things that Preston values.
He didn’t get into the Honor Society by accident. He had to work hard, especially for his grades, to accomplish that while also juggling personal goals and commitments with his family. And that’s important to him not just to be successful but to do it the right way.
from the blog
