As a young man from a country town, my dream was to escape poverty through a college sports scholarship in either baseball or football. Through the many obstacles on my journey, I also managed to acquire carpentry skills. I eventually graduated college with a bachelor's degree in social studies and a minor in driver's education and physical education. I later achieved a master's degree in master's in educational administration and supervision. In the interim I played two years of semiprofessional football, where I broke my leg. I recovered and enjoyed a short stint in the NFL with the New York Giants. But after the team cut me and put me on waivers, I ended my gridiron career and for the next thirty years worked in education, where I went from teacher to department chairman to assistant principal to principal all at the same high school. At the same time I was also working in home improvement in my off hours and built several of my own homes.My life is proof positive that with enough determination and perseverance you can overcome any obstacle-poverty, injuries, family dysfunction, and racism-to achieve your dreams and goals.