I have undertaken a project that may prove to be over my head, but I intend to stick it out to the end and to give it my absolute very best. My project is to help a young 27 year old man to get his GED (General Education Diploma). The thing is, he was pulled out of school extremely young and only has a 5th grade education. That's the aspect of this project that has me a bit overwhelmed.
The reason I have undertaken this project is because this young man is my son-in-law's cousin and therefore a part of my family. But more than that, he is one of those beings who slipped through the cracks at such a young age. He's had absolutely no loving guidance in his life and as such he has made so many mistakes and has a terrible lifestyle of drugs, drinking, low level paying jobs, no vehicle, no place of his own to live. He believes there's no hope for him because he doesn't see his own value. The other evening he and my son were visiting and he mentioned that life has become so bad that... and he made a slashing gesture across his neck. I responded with, "No, that's not the answer. You're worth much more than that and have much to offer and share with the world." He has these huge liquid eyes the color of a cloudless sky and they became larger as I spoke, then tears puddled up in his eyes and he said, "I have been waiting all my life to hear someone tell me I am worth it."
I can't tell you the sorrow I felt when he made that confession. He went on to say how he was almost 30 years old and had nothing to show for it. He was almost 30 years old and had nothing to call his own, including his own space. He was almost 30 years old and didn't have anyone to share himself with. He went on in this vein for a bit, kinda like pulling the plug on an over flowing bathtub... lettin' it out. Then he concluded with, "And I don't know where to begin or what to do."
My son and I both said, "You need an education." And that's when I offered to help him get his GED. It was later when discussing things, we learned he'd not gone beyond 5th grade. It's such a tragic and sad story. I'm not sure really where to begin. I thought to go to Books-a-Million and buy some school work books beginning with the 5th grade on up through high school and things like flash cards, and story books, puzzles and what have you... He has good handwriting. He doesn't seem dumb. Ignorant at times, yes. But not dumb. He's learnable. I thought perhaps to do a blog on this project, to keep a record of the progress would be interesting and perhaps informative.
Time for tea and a long soak to think about this before I hunt some dreams.
And may all yours be sweet...
~ Dazzle