Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Gangster to Graduate

By Sheryl L. Tollenaar, D.C.

I first met about four years ago, he came to my office with a low

back

injury he had suffered while on the job. His treatment period would prove

to be

lengthy and as time passed I began to learn about the real . He had

moved

to Texas from the gangs of Chicago with his wife, whom he fondly referred to

as

" the old lady, " and their two children. He told the story often of why he

left

Chicago, and I remember his vivid descriptions of gang life and how he

barely

escaped with his own life on several occasions.

He had dropped out of school with no plans of ever returning, accepting

this as his fate in life. In time, I began to realize that was more

than

just a street wise man; he had learned something before he quit school. I

really believed that owed it to himself and his family to give school

another chance. In many of our sessions, I would ask if he had

considered

returning for a GED, and maybe attending college someday. He would always

quickly respond by saying " Never, I am just too old. "

Call it clich,, but I believe that you are never too old to learn

something

new. He just didn't have anyone to encourage him. I remember how he

impressed

me with his quick wit and intellect and often remarked to him that I thought

it

was a shame he would not consider at least getting his GED.

When moved further into chiropractic treatment, many others in my

clinic began to see potential in too. They quickly jumped on the GED

encouragement wagon. On the first day that began his chiropractic

treatment, just before he left, he turned to me and said, " Thanks. "

As usual, I said, " Glad I could help you today, " and to my surprise, he

said, " No doctor, for more than that . . . for the encouragement. "

then

invited me to go with him to get his diploma. He had passed his high school

equivalency exam. I was quite shocked, and honored. All of those pep talks

had

worked. admitted to me that he did not want to be another drop out

statistic. I was very proud of him and of myself for getting to know my

patients and making a difference in their lives.

As his treatment progressed, found a better job that paid more

money.

He had a high school diploma and the world at his feet. I hoped that all

the

encouragement my staff and I had given him would push him to the next level

and

that he would consider a college education. Though I thought my efforts

would

be fruitless, it was something positive to dream about. Well, it wasn't

long

before finished his treatments, and was released from my care. I would

never know the fate of my patient . But, I had tried.

It wasn't until some months later that I had a surprise visitor at my

clinic. He would not give his name. As I walked out to the lobby, I saw a

familiar face. It was and he was holding some sort of invoice. I

walked

out to greet him and asked how I could help him. He said he didn't want to

stay

long; he just wanted to thank me. I was not accustomed to patients coming

back

to thank me with a bill in their hand, so as I looked at him oddly, I said

the

usual, " No problem and glad to do it. " Then he said, " No doctor, you don't

understand, this is a tuition payment for college . . . for me to attend

college. "