An Optimistic Closure

Prayer and having so many people pray for my wife and I really did work for me. Faith was the thing that kept me going. My blood relatives, an extended family, network of people who still have faith in civil rights progress all helped me keep the faith. I struggled with doubt, but my prayers were answered even though I felt like it would be a miracle if it actually happened.

I smile a lot at work because I get to be a service oriented leader for a living in the town filled with people I love. I prayed that I could get a job like this when I was a teenager and so many people believed that the election of Obama ended racism. I get to do that and Ibget to work with students and educators who want to be nerds for justice (like me) and upstanders when identity based bullying occurs (and other barriers) need to be addressed. It's a blessing that I get to study these topics for a living with some of the most hard working people I've ever met. The cooler part is I get to do this with people who treated me like I was a member of their family. I say THE Arcadia Titans with Pride because so many of my family members have graduated from there and worked there. Lesley F. and Brian C. have transitioned to the other side, but I like to think that they're looking out for us up there too.

I've gone from being homeless to being in a position where I can be a homeowner in the near future.

The most important lesson I've learned is that I wouldn't have found the peace needed to get a PhD and a job that I love if it weren't for God. My faith really was the size of a mustard seed and it was the people who I met in school, along with my blood relatives, who helped me keep the faith. I intend to do a better job at doing the same for you all from now on too.

As a side note, I finally have the optimistic closure for the story I'm trying to write re: "what about the people who aren't in the training.