A story about Ross Rhodes
He had turned 18. He woke up one day, looked around and didn't like
what he saw. His life was going nowhere. He looked at his family,
and noticed they too were going nowhere. He looked at his friends and
saw their lives were going nowhere. He had heard about Lincoln's ChalleNGe
Academy and believed they could offer a new road, a new life, a new level
of success for his life. He signed up and got on the LCA bus.
He did graduate from The Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy on June 14th, 2008.
His graduation was held at The Springield Convention Center in Springfield,
Illinois. Will he find a new life that far outweighs his past existence?
It's a joint project. It's the result of a partnership 
between LCA and Ross. There is a degree of risk for Ross and a
degree of opportunity that must be presented by LCA that can result in an
amazing re-birth.
So, his story is "in process". There are no guarantees that he
will find his better life, but Ross has made a personal commitment for change.
There are no refunds, but Ross is committed to walking a new road.
He is in unknown territory by his choice. After all, he has
already walked away from his comfortable old life and he now searches for
his new life's purpose. Winners must "walk the walk".
He entered the LCA program without a mentor. He was a former Safe Schools
student, so I was asked to be his mentor. I did become his mentor on
paper but not in his heart. When he completed the ChalleNGe Program,
I never saw or heard from him again. On the mentor issue, we both lost.
And, there is no story here except for his Rantoul experience.
