How Steps-2-Success Made a Difference in my Life
by Wayne Credle
When Mrs. Gresha and Mrs. Krystal first laid eyes on me, they were laying eyes on a gentleman that had made excuses for himself, that was failing a math course, and had no idea, where his life was going, or what he wanted to do. He just knew that it was going to be ‘successful’, because that’s the cliché that is placed on many young peoples’ future. Mrs. Gresha Lewis and Mrs. Krystal Roberts wanted to know, “Successful—at doing what?”, and what is it going to take to get you there. About four months later, Mrs. Gresha Lewis laid her eyes on me, and she was able to see a high school graduate, who passed his math class, who was able to write a published article for Mix Magazine, who now attends Virginia Wesleyan College for Computer Science, and thanks to them, Journalism.
When I first thought about this program, I honestly had my doubts. By the time you’re a senior in high school, you have already heard just about all of the speeches and lectures about your future, about not having sex, and about not doing drugs, so I wasn’t interested in hearing about what I couldn’t do. However, when these two individuals stepped foot into Classroom 123, they could care less about what we could not do, in actuality; they worked with what we could do, and how much more we could achieve. Each of us was selected because of our GPA’s were low, but our potential was high. I doubt if anyone had a 3.0 in the class. We would start by eating first, sharing our day, our thoughts and doubts, as well as our insight. Next we would do a group activity, followed by group discussion to drive home the lesson that was meant to be learned that day. Next we would focus on our classes. Sponsors from Norfolk State University were brought in to help us in the areas of math, and science. This gave everyone that academic boost, as well as answered any questions that we needed. Lastly we would meet with our teams to discuss our individual community service project—this year we donated stuffed animals to the children at the Children’s Hospitals for the King’s Daughters. This gave us the opportunity to help others and to make a difference in the life of those who were in needed of encouragement.
Of course, I thought, this would be a breeze for a person like me. I had a steady GPA, I stayed out of trouble, I was graduating, I went to church, and I was one of the leaders in the classroom. So, commonly used in jail, “What are you in for?” What was my story? My mom had died four years ago, and soon after, my father took custody of my sisters five, count them, five kids. Four boys and one girl, and we won. Despite all that was thrown at us behind the scenes, we had walked out of that court room with the kids, oblivious that soon after, Kenneth, age 9, has a talent for drawing, Kahmile, age 7, has straight A’s, Kendra, age 6, has become the boy’s surrogate mother, Kendrick (twin), who has a limited memory, age 5 liked to build things and offer advice, and at last Kedrick, (twin), age 5, and having sickle cell anemia, is planning to skip into the 1grade this coming fall. When you raise five kids, there’s hardly one question that two women can ask that you can’t answer, but these two succeeded. While focusing on their future, I saw sight and concern with my own. I was about to graduate, and I had no idea what college I was going to, or what I was majoring in. “You have a week”, was the response I got to that—the statement that “you’ll find it in time” has elapsed.
In that week, I believe I fell in love with the passion to write. Since then, my writing has taken me from my seat at Booker T. Washington, to the podium of my own high school graduating. From this program, I learned that it truly is a STEP to success. We all have our own goals that we wish to reach, as well as a divine purpose that He wants us to achieve, but triumph, does not come in a specific time, its not something you have to wait for, triumph comes with trial, when your undivided attention is required, and when you have to risk it all to gain it all. And, when I look at these two women, I can’t help but say thank you, because I have gained it all. So if you haven’t had a chance to enroll your child in this program, no doubt that they can still achieve success—that’s not the purpose of the program, success is something that can be obtained, sometimes without much effort—but how many of us had to learn the hard way, that no matter how much success one has or will obtain, they’re distinct and mandated steps that we must climb or endure in order to get there?
Mrs. Gresha and Mrs. Krystal emphasize, that regardless of it you want to be a singer, a carpenter, a scientist, a model, or a doctor—it is possible that you will get there, but it takes one thing: A STEP!
Tel: 757-329-7542
Fax: 757-273-6180
