To the Homeless of Eugene Oregon, and America,

                                    “Down but Never out”

            I would awake in the dark some mornings with frost on my sub-zero sleeping bag and start getting ready for school. I lived on a stoop at the corner of 4^TH and Monroe where the big mural is in the Whitaker neighborhood for the beginning six weeks of my first year in the culinary program at Lane Community College. I remember this cat that would wait for me every night and crawl into the bag with me; he defiantly helped keep my feet warm. I would take two busses and be at school by 8:00 am. I would make my classes and spend extra time studying or working with other students on assignments, or I would stop at the Eugene library to have a warm place to read if it wasn’t sunny and warm out. I had a few friends, who weren’t homeless and they helped me by letting me cook food at their house or using their laundry room to keep my uniforms clean and white. I found a home in November of that year, yet found myself with an alcoholic roommate who I thought I could live with. When your on the street some times you make compromises; this was one that came back to haunt me when we had a falling out. I became very ill for three weeks during the winter term missing school and to top it off had not found a new place to live. In short, by February, I was homeless again fighting a resurgence of the flu which took me out of school for the rest of the term. I filed for a reinstatement and refund and was awarded both. I found a new home and was back to school by spring term. I learned two very important things. Those who succeed never give up, and to believe in myself; not just that I could make it, but that I merited and deserved to succeed.

After that I went to drug court graduated, started using again 17 months later, walked away from my home Last Easter. I was homeless again for a few months. I stayed in school got back off the street. I have earned credits amassing enough for an A. A. in General studies, and A.A. in Culinary Arts. My Brothers and sisters Stand up right now and say, “Yes”. Never give up. Never quit. Never believe you are not worthy; for, I love you. I got your back.

 THOR