He who Focuses will succeed!

JennLynn · Tweet this Post! #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 10:25 PM

KNOXVILLE - Born in Colombia but raised in New York City, poor, grew up in a poor neighborhood and got involved in drugs and gangs.
He had a choice - get his life turned around or wind up dead or in jail. He chose the first option, and is now taking baby steps to encourage others in his community to take that option as well.

He is a coordinator for the Latino Task Force in Tennessee, Under the Community Economic Development Network for East Tennessee.

But it was when he moved to East Tennessee that his education got him started in the right direction. A graduate of Walters State Community College's Sevier County Campus, he received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee and is now a graduate student there, working on a masters in social work.

"It was a big accomplishment, because if you told me six years ago I would be doing this, I would have laughed so hard," he said, who now resides in Sevierville.

"A lot of kids in ghettos and the projects fall into gangs and I fell into that, too. Education wasn't a big thing for us - most kids in the ghettos and projects don't think about that. We were thinking about how to make money. I only saw myself living past a certain age, so why bother going to school?"

He who managed to finish high school, and not long after worked as an emergency medical technician for 16 years.

"That's one of the things that saved me," he said. "I had two parents at home, as opposed to all my friends who were only living in a one-parent home. I knew how to read, but a lot my friends didn't and I didn't know that. I think that's one of the things that separated me a little bit. I had common sense - I always listened to a voice inside my head that said look at this.

"I was at a point in my life where I was at a crossroads," he said. "Either take this road and do what you need to do or take this path and be a lifetime criminal and amount to nothing. I took the first road, but I still did things that prohibited me from growing and expanding myself. Although I was a smart person, I made a lot of dumb choices. Once you go into a certain lifestyle, it's hard to get out of it."

He credited Ronnie , director at Walters State, for helping him make it through.

"I went up to Ronnie and told him what I wanted to do," He said. "He's heard it so much when people say I will do this with my life and never accomplish it. I think I surprised Ronnie - he helped me a lot and was instrumental in helping me transition."

Ronnie said he wasn't sure what to expect from him after talking with him.

"By listening to him and his life experiences, I was not feeling confident that he would stick with the program and finish his degree," he said. "As time progressed, he spent more time with me and we talked about his interests and concerns about society. I began to see a different side of him, and he showed a sense of determination for success. His grades manifested that determination.

"I saw him dig deeper and try harder and do whatever was necessary to excel," Ronnie continued. "I realized he was determined to get his degree and make a difference. After he left, I had no idea he would pursue his (undergraduate) degree. To discover he was in the master's program just floored me. I saw him and he was so focused on what he wants to do and the difference he wants to make."

He said it was through a friend in his current master's program that he landed his position at the Latino Task Force.

"I didn't have experience and they took a chance with me," he said. "Things just opened up for me, and college had a lot to do with that. Now I know what I want to do with my life. What I do now is not just for the Latino community, but I'm advocating for anyone that needs help.

"I've had a great experience here, and I'm making excellent contacts that will help me in the future," He said." I'm only on a contract from July to August, so I don't know what my fate will be. I'm getting paid through a grant. When the funds run out, I don't know what's going to happen. I will continue this, whether it be with them or not, but I would love to stay."

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