“Balancing isn't the most appropriate word in regard to being a law school student and parenting four 2 year olds.  It feels more like skipping through a mine field while reading a book,” says Dustin Hughes, a UDSL summer start student who is experiencing a very big learning curve, both as a law student and as a father.

Hughes is a former national youth director for the International Pentecostal Church of Christ, where he planned mission trips, camps and acted as a resource to small churches. His decision to pursue a law degree evolved as he felt he had taken his position with the church as far as he could and was searching for a different way to serve God.

As a transactional attorney, Hughes plans to help people fund mission work through estate planning. “Do your giving while you’re living so you’re knowing where it’s going,” Hughes says, one of many one-sentence mantras he says he likes to focus on.

Another is “happy wife, happy life,” and he credits his wife of nine years, Mindy, a first-grade teacher whom he met while they were both undergraduate students at Cedarville University, for much of his happiness. Their 2-year old quadruplets, Hayden, Winston, Reed, and Jenna are a blessing after many years of praying for children and the passing of their first son. “It’s pretty cool how He’s worked things out for us,” Hughes said.

While during orientation week Hughes wasn’t so sure he would be able to manage the workload of law school and his growing family, after one summer session he’s decided to stay. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose – there is so much information,” he said. The quality of the instructors is what he says he is enjoying most about UDSL so far.

His confidence in his ability to be a successful law student seems to be growing, but he’s not aiming to be first in the class. “I have to make concessions on both sides,” he said. “What’s a couple of points from my GPA when measured against my kids?”

Hughes arrives on campus early, leaves after class and studies at Cedarville to be closer to home. Thanks to the early bedtime of 2 year olds, he also manages to get some reading done in his own house most evenings. “Time management is key,” he says. And so is faith. “Make sure it’s what God wants you to do. It will work out if it’s what you’re meant to be doing.”