Six Deuce Provides Inspiration Toward Success

Submitted April 21, 2011 by Ben Shine | 1 comment

Six –Deuce Provides Inspiration Toward Success

On Friday, April 15, I attended the graduation for Second Helpings Class 62 – or “six-deuce” as they coined themselves. If you haven’t ever attended a graduation, do so. I promise you’ll walk away inspired.

The ceremony materials featured the personal stories of each graduate and what had led him or her to Second Helpings. While their stories are unique – one student had enrolled due to the recession and multiple downsizings from a different industry, another is the son of a Second Helpings graduate, a third had enrolled for a second chance after not making it through the first time – I noticed a commonality among the group. Each student had made a conscious choice to enroll to forge a better career path and ultimately create a better life.

The drive to create a better future truly resonated with me for personal reasons. On my desk at work sits a picture of me at age four held by my grandfather. As the oldest grandchild, I was fortunate enough to create several memories with him before he passed away at only 55 (I was eight). He had a fun and adventurous spirit, which is amazing given his difficult beginnings.

My grandfather, his identical twin and another brother had been placed in an Albany, N.Y., orphanage as young boys. Their mother had good intentions but lacked the capability to adequately care for them. Their boyhood experience was anything but idyllic given they experienced an at-times physically abusive environment without much to eat. My grandfather decided he wanted more, so he jumped a merchant marine ship underage to forge his own path. He eventually met and courted my grandmother, had three children and forged a successful career in the insurance and banking fields– all with a sixth-grade education. His drive helped send his three children to college so they too could have a better life.

It’s during events such as the Second Helpings graduation that I especially think about my grandfather and am incredibly grateful for his drive to want a better life so that I too could have one. The photo on my desk serves as a constant reminder that tough times never last, but tough people do. I also know in my heart that he would’ve loved this organization and its mission to Eliminate Hunger and Empower People. Six-deuce graduates and Chef Sam Brown, here’s to you for wanting more. Congratulations!

-Kim Borges
Assistant Vice President
Area Marketing Manager
Regions Bank 

 

Comments

Janice Ledford
April 27th, 2011 12:01pm
Congratulation Class #62rnAll accomplishments and achievements are productive and progressive in determining the quality of one's future. rnTo John Clanton a.k.a. Little John: Your aunt Janice loves you and speaks God's blessings over your life and over all of your endeavors. rnAgain Congratulations!!!

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