Bryce Stone, pictured, graduated from Jamestown High School on Thursday. Stone plans to attend JCC in the fall before continuing his education in social work. Submitted photo

For Bryce Stone, a future in social work isn’t just a career choice.

It’s personal.

The Jamestown High School senior, who is visually impaired, plans to attend Jamestown Community College this fall to pursue an associate degree in Human Services before eventually continuing his education in social work. His goal is to help others with disabilities navigate challenges similar to those he has experienced himself.

“I like to help people with disabilities go through the mental aspect,” Stone said. “I feel like talking to somebody who goes through something that’s similar can be very helpful.”

Weeks away from graduation, he’s been dedicated to putting that philosophy into practice, volunteering in Macey Lundmark’s adaptive physical education classes at JHS — often volunteering his time even when he wasn’t scheduled to be there.

“Bryce was an outstanding student who went above and beyond in our Adaptive PE class,” Lundmark said. “Even on days when he did not have gym, he regularly showed up to help, organize stations, create groups, and encourage students to participate.”

Lundmark said Stone quickly became a trusted friend and role model for many students in the program.

“He thrived in helping and encouraging others, always offering support and positivity,” she said. “His positive attitude, kindness, and willingness to help others allowed him to build meaningful connections with students, and they always look forward to seeing him.”

Despite the impact Stone has had on others, he tends to focus less on himself and more on the people who have influenced him.

The idea of pursuing social work began to take shape through a series of summer programs he attended in Utica and Brockport for children and teens who are blind or visually impaired.

Over the years, Stone developed relationships with mentors, counselors, and social workers who helped him better understand his own experiences while showing him the impact one person can have on another’s life.

“I’ve met with one of the social workers there for a couple of years, and he’s really inspired me to get into the field,” Stone said.

One of those programs, Camp Abilities, hosted by SUNY Brockport, has been serving children and teens with visual impairments for more than three decades. Stone has attended the camp for several years and will return this summer in a new role as a summer camp counselor.

The experience has not only helped him develop leadership skills, but also connected him with people who understand many of the same challenges he faces.

“Talking to somebody who can be a role model, somebody that’s older than you, who’s lived through it, can definitely be very important and, I think, influential on you and give you confidence,” Stone said.

He also values the friendships he has built through the camps.

“Being around kids and teens that have gone through similar challenges — I’ve met some of my best friends there,” he said. “We live far away, but I talk to them every day.”

As he looks ahead to college, Stone believes social work offers both meaningful opportunities to help others and a wide range of career possibilities.

“I think it’s a good career path,” he said. “You can work really anywhere with it. You can go wherever you want. There’s always places to work.”

At Jamestown High School, Stone credits supportive teachers and challenging coursework for helping prepare him for the next chapter.

“Definitely my favorite part of high school has probably been the teachers,” he said. “Most of the teachers here are very helpful and easy to get along with, and very accommodating.”

He also appreciated the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school through College Connections courses.

“I do really like the college courses that they offer,” Stone said. “I’ve gotten a bunch of credits, so I don’t have to take any English. I’ve gotten a lot of electives here for JCC, so I’m just carrying those over.”

Among his favorite teachers were Brad Peterson, whose Audio and Sound class became one of his favorite high school experiences, along with science teacher Kelly Pearson and history teacher Chris Roberts.

As he prepares to begin college this fall, Stone is considering eventually completing a bachelor’s degree through an online program, potentially through the University at Albany.

For now, however, he is focused on the opportunities that lie immediately ahead.

“I’m excited to move on to something new,” he said. “Kind of get out there a little bit, get out in the world, just have more freedom.”

More than anything, he’s eager to study a subject that connects directly to his future goals — a path shaped by personal experience, meaningful mentors, and a desire to help others.

“I want to be able to learn stuff that I’m interested in and something that I want to go into,” Stone said.