Learning How to Read for Understanding and Success
Sharing My Success Strategies
Introduction
This is a story of me (a dying boy in a foster home attic) and his 16-year journey in overcoming foster care and schoolyard abuse. I was strong with high esteem, ready to face the future, until I met the challenge that lay ahead.
Background
I was that boy in the attic, bloated and dying of severe malnutrition.
The foster care system rescued me and put me in a second home to recover. I was bedridden for 2 years or more. where I suffered nearly all diseases and all forms of abuse. Including 2 years of sexual abuse After recovery, I entered the 1st grade as a funny walking skeleton. 8-year-old boy Working since age 8, by the 6th grade I was working 4 jobs, 2 before and 2 after school. Up at 3 am and asleep by 10 pm. Working helped build my strength. The bullying lasted some 6 years until I defeated the bully in front of his gang. I dropped out of school in the eighth—PITY, NO! Others have or continue to suffer. Crimes against children are much worse than mine.
My 6th foster home let me go because of my working hours. The state had no place for me. except military service
The state approves military service at age 17.
The Navy recruiter said the Marine recruiter was at lunch and that the Marines only wanted high school graduates. I took the Navt tests, and my test scores were high enough to qualify for Aviation Electrician “A” School. My classmates were older, and nearly all were high school grads. After “A” school, I was assigned a tour of duty with VF-14 onboard the USS Forestal (CVA 57) maiden Mediterranean cruise. Completing my tour with VF-14, I was reassigned to Aviation Electrician “B” school.
Again I was the youngest, lowest rank among high school and beginning college students. I don’t remember the subject, but the instructor was a second-class person that reminded me of a bully. I tuned him out and had to take the failed class again; however, my overall scores were high enough to graduate and be reassigned.
Facing a New Challenge and Why My Failure Was Never an Option
Unbelievable: I was to return to “A” School as an instructor.
Youngest instructor with an 8th-grade education, teaching a new subject for the school You’re right; the same subject I failed in was “B” school. I got the curriculum and had a week to prepare for my first class. Again. The class was older high school graduates
I had beaten the bullies, 16 years of Foster Csre and school abuse amd my esteem was high. I was falling apart with the fear of facing this new challenge. Here is how I met the challenge.
Steps to Success
Use the library, or Internet, where several reference book choices are available. Find the topic; check the table of contents and the index. Read for understanding; look up words and phrases. Read another book and another until you are comfortable. understand, can explain the topic, and can answer questions. 5 books were typical for me as I mastered the subject matter.
Not only was I successful, but I was selected as the Phase Instructor of the Year
This simple strategy has worked for me for over 60 years.
Thanks for reading Learning How to Read for Understanding and Success
