Title of Tip: Steady Growing
Name: Michael Stallworth, 50
Description: In life, you should never stop learning. There is always something that you need to know. You can learn something different every day. Learning is like growing.
Instructions: You can learn new things when you put your mind to it. They say you can learn a lot from a dummy. Be optimistic, open your mind, think, listen, watch, and learn. Learn from others; be around positive people, influences, and minds. Positive people can push you and help you believe in yourself so you don’t give up easily. It can change your way of thinking. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Move toward improvement and never stop.
Learning: I have been through a lot in my life. When I was incarcerated, I thought that I could not learn because I had dyslexia. I was in a GED class, and I could not understand algebra for anything. I failed my math test three times. You needed a 145 to pass; I got 144 the first time I took it, then I got another 144 and another 144. I was off by one point each time but did not quit. I got around some positive people and energy and was back to the drawing board. I was missing simple things. I had to sit down and review the formulas. I started memorizing them and then retook the test. They called and told me that I passed; I got a 147. I passed reading and language the first time, but the math, that a2 + b2 = c2, was a challenge. It felt like a big accomplishment because I was a class clown in school; I sat in the back and didn’t take learning seriously. I finally took it upon myself to start learning. I passed my GED at 50, which was a great experience because I always thought I could not do it.
Story: I was once a notorious drug seller… but not anymore. I had to think of new ways to make money positively, which took time. What I learned while in prison and through passing my GED helped me. It made me want to move on and keep on learning. Now, my philosophy is, what else can I do? Can I get into this culinary arts school? Can I go back and do this and do that? Accomplishing something I put my mind to made me feel like I could do anything. I got over that stigma that I had all my life, the voice that I had in the back of my mind: Man, you did not even graduate; you don’t even have your GED. That roadblock is no longer clogging my life. Now, I can move forward and do whatever I want. Like, get a food truck. That’s how I feel.
