Catching Up, With a Little Help

Very inspiring story. The fact that he went back to school at an older age shows character. I can imagine it being very tough and humbling. Kudos to you!

Cindy, my e-mail address is ron_cassie@yahoo.com. Would you contact me?

I remember Ron. It is good to hear that you have finally started to turn things around after all these years. I had heard that you got into drugs and the wrong crowd. I am glad that I always had the sense to avoid those crowds and drugs. I hope that it all finally works out for you some day. It looks like Cleo is doing things right!

The real role model in this story is Cleo.

I knew Ron. He went to my high school. I don't like the fact that he makes the excuse that he basically ended up a loser, because he grew up in Allentown and it was all because of the mining and steel culture. I knew no one that was a miner or worked for a steel company. That was going on many years before us. All my friends graduated from college in 4 years and we are all very successful in our careers. That includes surgeons, dentists, lawyers, and business professionals. I do remember that Ron got into drugs and lost his focus on school. He should take responsibility for his own failures and not blame it on growing up in Allentown.

Ron, I really enjoyed reading your article. Wait a minute! Were you really 200 lbs. in high school? I think I maxed out at 180, and I thought we were about the same weight in high school. I am glad you are reading some of my favorite books by Vonnegut, and Huxley. Unfortunately, being always "busy" I have neglected my former passion. Well, good luck to you and me in our endeavor. Great article! I recommend to you, "The Golden Ass", a Greek Humoresque-type novel I had to read and loved in my time trying to get back to college at PSU Allentown. Talk to you soon!
davelmoyer@yahoo.com

Actually, the world needs more role models like you. Thanks for sharing.

My name is Nathan and I am a senior at St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph, MI. Today in my college writing class we read and analyzed this column for: sentence fluency, grammer, puctuation, and many other technicalities of writing. I, as well as my class was very impressed with the structure of this column as well as the content. The voice in the piece is strong, honest and genuine. We could tell that the way you write is the way you would speak to us and it made the article more personal. I would also like to say that it was good of you to realize how valuable education is and I commend you for taking the initiative to go back to college. Most people your age would have just given up. I hope you continue to do well in school and good luck.

I'm just like Cleopatra- 17 and a 4.23 gpa- and I wish i could show some of my friends (even the teenage ones!) the joy you've found in reading. I recommend The Three Musketeers by Dumas. It's exciting, romantic, and doesn't have all the longwinded French architectural descriptions that The Hunchback of Notre Dame has. After you read it, watch the movie! That way your wife doesn't feel left out of all the book-iness. Good luck =D.

The human will to learn always amazes me. After Senator John McCain was released from captivity after five and a half years, the first thing he asked for was a book. He craved mental stimulation that he had been craving for so long. He said (and I paraphrase) "just get me a book."

While it may have taken this gentleman until his late 30's to appreciate reading, he found it nonetheless.