GED to PHD

A true story of survival from a path of destruction.  I struggled with low self-esteem, learning problems, depression, and alcohol/drugs.  I was never encouraged to succeed or even thought of getting an education.  From my teenage years, I was told I would amount to nothing.  I enjoyed hanging out with my friends more then attending school. I spent a great deal of time partying in my early teenage years.  My life was transformed the minute that God sought me out.  I went from a loser to a winner, a high school drop out to completing a PhD, a laborer to a college campus president, a non-rated enlisted member to a Senior Chief Petty Officer and then a commissioned Chief Warrant Officer, a lost young man to a church leader, elder, and minister and a little lost man to a father and grandfather.  My life journey continues by never giving up, looking deep inside myself, and finding hope through my personal relationship with God.

               Have you every felt like you could not succeed in life?  

Were you told that you were the ruination of the home? 

Have you been told that you would never amount to much in life? 

Have you been continually bombarded with negativity instead of being supported through love and a positive environment?  

Well let me tell you, we do not have any control over what others feel about us, say to us or do against us.  We have the choice of either accepting their negative thoughts, feelings and words and letting them affect our life tremendously, or we can ask the Lord to give us strength and disregard those hurtful things, and press on through the strength of God.  Before you read this book, I want you to pray and ask God to open your heart so you can hear His voice.  I am totally convinced God desires to speak personally to you through these pages.         

What do I want to be when I grow up?

If you had asked me in high school, prior to quitting, what I planned to do with my life, the answer would be “I want to be a counselor.”  I wanted to help others who had problems with their life, even though my life was unfulfilled and a mess.  It seemed many of my friends, both girls and guys, would gravitate to me for a “listening ear.”  They would come to me and say “Vernon what do you think I should do about”……or “what should I say to …….”   I could only share with them from my own feelings, thoughts and experiences that were very limited at that age. However, life does not provide us with a crystal ball to answer “what will I be when I grow up.”  The problem with predicting our future is that we do not know how and where we will be tomorrow, as we have no control over what transpired yesterday and certainly no idea of what lies ahead tomorrow.  I have learned that I can only allow God to control my life today “one day at a time.”