Oct. 2, 2026
For Binti, a 5K sounded easy.
After all, she was used to running much farther. In June, she competed in the 12-hour Wicked Worm ultramarathon at Robinette’s, covering nearly 59 miles. So when she learned about the GRCC cross country team and its 5K races, she figured she could handle three miles.
Then she discovered there was a difference between running long distances and racing them.
“I did not realize they’re sprinting 5Ks,” she said, laughing. “It was a huge difference.”
She joined the team anyway.
That willingness to try something new is a recurring theme in Binti’s story. Since coming to Grand Rapids Community College in fall 2025, she has become a student-athlete, fitness instructor, Honors Program student, peer mentor and campus event organizer. All while pursuing her studies full-time.
“I’ve always enjoyed being involved because I believe in not missing opportunities,” she said.
Finding the Right Place to Start Again
Born in Kenya, Binti grew up between Grand Rapids and Buffalo, New York, where much of her family lives. She graduated from Union High School in 2018 and initially planned to enter the military.
When that path was no longer an option, she enrolled at a four-year university. She eventually stepped away from college, and for several years, considered returning.
GRCC offered a different kind of experience when she was ready to start again.
From orientation, she said, she noticed the attention people paid to helping her understand the college, its resources and what she needed to do next.
“Everything had a sense of community,” she said. “I wasn’t getting left behind. I wasn’t just another student.”
That mattered even more because most of her family lives in New York.
Turning a Love of Fitness Into a Career
At GRCC, Binti found her academic direction in exercise science.
She had explored other interests over the years, including criminal justice and information technology. Exercise science felt different.
Learning about the body, movement and health came naturally, she said. She could begin reading about a topic and realize six hours had passed.
More importantly, it gave her an opportunity to help people.
Binti is a certified personal trainer who works at two YMCA locations in Grand Rapids. She also works as a fitness instructor at GRCC’s Ford Fieldhouse where her role includes personal training and group fitness instruction.
She first became involved in the Fieldhouse after a cross country teammate learned about her certifications and encouraged her to connect with the staff. Binti began teaching high-intensity interval training classes before becoming involved with personal training.
“I get to help people live healthier lives,” she said. “It does not feel like a job at all. And that’s what I was looking for.”
Her long-term goal is to work in sports medicine, particularly with clients focused on rehabilitation or injury prevention. She is considering careers as an athletic trainer or exercise physiologist.
Binti expects to graduate in spring 2027 with an associate degree in Health and Exercise Sciences and plans to transfer to a four-year university to continue her education.
Finding Another Kind of Team
Running provides another outlet.
Binti joined GRCC’s cross country team in 2025 after meeting the coach and being drawn to the team environment. Although she was already an experienced distance runner, racing a 5K presented a new challenge.
She was initially one of the slower runners on the team, but said her teammates never made her feel that way.
“They made me feel just as fast as them,” she said. The experience gave Binti more than an opportunity to compete. Cross country practice became something she looked forward to after stressful days of coursework and another place where she found a sense of belonging.
Creating Community for Other Students
Binti hasn’t just found community at GRCC. She worked to create it.
She was hired as a peer mentor with the Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs in August 2025, working with students in the Rise Up and Achieve program. She helped students navigate college, connected them with campus resources and tried to ensure they didn’t feel alone when they encountered challenges.
Later, she began developing events designed to bring students together.
She helped organize an Islam 101 event to address misconceptions and give students an opportunity to learn more about the faith. She also worked with others to create a temporary prayer space during Ramadan and organized a cultural event where students could experience foods from several regions and cultures.
The Woodrick Center, she said, gave her the support and tools to turn her ideas into actual campus experiences.
“They helped bring my vision to life,” she said.
Her involvement eventually led to another opportunity. After completing Honors projects and participating in the Honors Showcase, Binti completed Introduction to Honors 101 and officially joined GRCC’s Honors Program in summer 2026.
And she isn’t finished coming up with ideas. She is already thinking about future events focused on athletes, faith and the broader campus community.
Finding Her Voice
Looking back, Binti sees a significant difference between the student who arrived at GRCC in fall 2025 and the person she is today.
She initially came to campus focused primarily on academics and cross country. Through her experiences over the past year, she discovered interests she hadn’t necessarily expected.
“I discovered how much I enjoyed leadership, mentoring and serving my community,” she said. “I gained confidence and learned how to use my voice to make a difference.”
That growth has changed how she thinks about success.
“GRCC has helped me grow from someone focused mostly on my own goals into someone who also thinks about how I can support others and leave a positive impact,” she said.
It’s a lesson Binti hopes other adults considering college will take to heart, too.
Her advice to someone who keeps thinking about returning to school but hasn’t taken the first step is simple: Don’t wait.
“You’re going to turn that age regardless of whether or not you start school,” she said. “So you might as well not regret ‘Hey, I should have started school two years ago.’ “
For Binti, starting at GRCC gave her an opportunity to pursue an education and a new career.
Along the way, she found something else: a community where she could find her own place and help others find theirs.