so his whole life was a million-to-one shot the story of my life I’m going to
shot the story of my life I’m going to
shot the story of my life I’m going to tell you all an unlikely story I left my
tell you all an unlikely story I left my
tell you all an unlikely story I left my mother when I was a kid my mother had a
mother when I was a kid my mother had a
mother when I was a kid my mother had a collection of problems and absenteeism
collection of problems and absenteeism
collection of problems and absenteeism she couldn’t take care of herself let
she couldn’t take care of herself let
she couldn’t take care of herself let alone anyone else I I didn’t leave from
alone anyone else I I didn’t leave from
alone anyone else I I didn’t leave from the abuse like the time when I called
the abuse like the time when I called
the abuse like the time when I called the police on her after she kicked me in
the police on her after she kicked me in
the police on her after she kicked me in the face and busted my nose open yet I
the face and busted my nose open yet I
the face and busted my nose open yet I didn’t have the heart to open the door
didn’t have the heart to open the door
didn’t have the heart to open the door when the police came and knocked at the
when the police came and knocked at the
when the police came and knocked at the door and instead pretended with her that
door and instead pretended with her that
door and instead pretended with her that we weren’t at home I didn’t leave her
we weren’t at home I didn’t leave her
we weren’t at home I didn’t leave her the time she spat in my face or or the
the time she spat in my face or or the
the time she spat in my face or or the homelessness the evictions are begging
homelessness the evictions are begging
homelessness the evictions are begging for money and food I would leave her
for money and food I would leave her
for money and food I would leave her because she stole from me food can of
because she stole from me food can of
because she stole from me food can of tuna in the end when he came down to it
tuna in the end when he came down to it
tuna in the end when he came down to it I left my mother over a can of tuna so
I left my mother over a can of tuna so
I left my mother over a can of tuna so after that I felt like I could do better
after that I felt like I could do better
after that I felt like I could do better on my own
on my own
on my own in fact I never really felt like I had a
in fact I never really felt like I had a
in fact I never really felt like I had a mother so so leaving her actually turned
mother so so leaving her actually turned
mother so so leaving her actually turned out to be the best thing for me I never
out to be the best thing for me I never
out to be the best thing for me I never knew my father
knew my father
knew my father he he left when I was a baby and later
he he left when I was a baby and later
he he left when I was a baby and later died from a drug overdose so I lost my
died from a drug overdose so I lost my
died from a drug overdose so I lost my parents to drug addiction and mental
parents to drug addiction and mental
parents to drug addiction and mental illness but all of this would propel me
illness but all of this would propel me
illness but all of this would propel me forward upward out of this familiar
forward upward out of this familiar
forward upward out of this familiar world with her in these afflictions and
world with her in these afflictions and
world with her in these afflictions and I would embark on a journey big breath
I would embark on a journey big breath
I would embark on a journey big breath on this journey this this road this road
on this journey this this road this road
on this journey this this road this road less traveled I would get knocked down
less traveled I would get knocked down
less traveled I would get knocked down to my knees more times than I can count
to my knees more times than I can count
to my knees more times than I can count yet would get back up and keep moving
yet would get back up and keep moving
yet would get back up and keep moving forward thanks to a great role model my
forward thanks to a great role model my
forward thanks to a great role model my dad rocky I met him I met him one day
dad rocky I met him I met him one day
dad rocky I met him I met him one day when he came on TV and I sat there and I
when he came on TV and I sat there and I
when he came on TV and I sat there and I watched it and I was just so inspired
watched it and I was just so inspired
watched it and I was just so inspired that that I wanted to go out and fight
that that I wanted to go out and fight
that that I wanted to go out and fight like right then and there go out and
like right then and there go out and
like right then and there go out and fight people but I didn’t so instead I
fight people but I didn’t so instead I
fight people but I didn’t so instead I watched him on TV all week cuz on TV all
watched him on TV all week cuz on TV all
watched him on TV all week cuz on TV all week on a loop because the newest Rocky
week on a loop because the newest Rocky
week on a loop because the newest Rocky was coming out soon you know
was coming out soon you know
was coming out soon you know elmo’s and such shout out Stallone
elmo’s and such shout out Stallone
elmo’s and such shout out Stallone you’re a genius so I watched rocky every
you’re a genius so I watched rocky every
you’re a genius so I watched rocky every day that week it came on I didn’t move I
day that week it came on I didn’t move I
day that week it came on I didn’t move I just watched and learned and what I
just watched and learned and what I
just watched and learned and what I would and what I didn’t know what I what
would and what I didn’t know what I what
would and what I didn’t know what I what I wouldn’t realize until over a decade
I wouldn’t realize until over a decade
I wouldn’t realize until over a decade later was the impact that this this man
later was the impact that this this man
later was the impact that this this man this hero and his story would have on me
this hero and his story would have on me
this hero and his story would have on me in my life so I stole I took all of the
in my life so I stole I took all of the
in my life so I stole I took all of the rocky isms walk talk mannerisms you may
rocky isms walk talk mannerisms you may
rocky isms walk talk mannerisms you may see a hint of that still to this very
see a hint of that still to this very
see a hint of that still to this very day I took also his ethics his morality
day I took also his ethics his morality
day I took also his ethics his morality getting back up and not giving up so so
getting back up and not giving up so so
getting back up and not giving up so so rocky gave me an identity but I was
rocky gave me an identity but I was
rocky gave me an identity but I was constantly frustrated with the way
constantly frustrated with the way
constantly frustrated with the way people saw me that why was it if I could
people saw me that why was it if I could
people saw me that why was it if I could see all of these positive and admirable
see all of these positive and admirable
see all of these positive and admirable traits in rocky why couldn’t people see
traits in rocky why couldn’t people see
traits in rocky why couldn’t people see that in me a rocky didn’t have parents
that in me a rocky didn’t have parents
that in me a rocky didn’t have parents but overcame that obstacle Rocky was
but overcame that obstacle Rocky was
but overcame that obstacle Rocky was blue-collar yet yet knew he was destined
blue-collar yet yet knew he was destined
blue-collar yet yet knew he was destined for more and achieved it rocky rocky was
for more and achieved it rocky rocky was
for more and achieved it rocky rocky was self-made Rocky is all heart instead of
self-made Rocky is all heart instead of
self-made Rocky is all heart instead of all brawn and no brains
all brawn and no brains
all brawn and no brains rocky was the hero of his own journey so
rocky was the hero of his own journey so
rocky was the hero of his own journey so I didn’t understand but Rocky was my
I didn’t understand but Rocky was my
I didn’t understand but Rocky was my hero my role model and I had to believe
hero my role model and I had to believe
hero my role model and I had to believe that he gave me these tools in this map
that he gave me these tools in this map
that he gave me these tools in this map to be successful on my journey but how
to be successful on my journey but how
to be successful on my journey but how how though how could I use these tools
how though how could I use these tools
how though how could I use these tools from Rocky to overcome the obstacles in
from Rocky to overcome the obstacles in
from Rocky to overcome the obstacles in my circumstances of growing up in Long
my circumstances of growing up in Long
my circumstances of growing up in Long Beach in Compton in the 90s during the
Beach in Compton in the 90s during the
Beach in Compton in the 90s during the LA riots as a white boy in a black
LA riots as a white boy in a black
LA riots as a white boy in a black neighborhood with no parental guidance a
neighborhood with no parental guidance a
neighborhood with no parental guidance a mountain to overcome indeed so Rocky
mountain to overcome indeed so Rocky
mountain to overcome indeed so Rocky Tommy loyalty and never forgetting where
Tommy loyalty and never forgetting where
Tommy loyalty and never forgetting where you come from meet Carl Carl is my best
you come from meet Carl Carl is my best
you come from meet Carl Carl is my best good friend he’s like my brother
good friend he’s like my brother
good friend he’s like my brother I’m he’s my family we met when we were
I’m he’s my family we met when we were
I’m he’s my family we met when we were 11 years old and without his help I
11 years old and without his help I
11 years old and without his help I never would have survived my youth call
never would have survived my youth call
never would have survived my youth call a
a
a Carl would teach me the value in real
Carl would teach me the value in real
Carl would teach me the value in real life the real meaning the true meaning
life the real meaning the true meaning
life the real meaning the true meaning of loyalty never never abandoning a
of loyalty never never abandoning a
of loyalty never never abandoning a friend Carl would hide me in his closet
friend Carl would hide me in his closet
friend Carl would hide me in his closet not literally hide me in his closet when
not literally hide me in his closet when
not literally hide me in his closet when I needed a place to sleep and didn’t
I needed a place to sleep and didn’t
I needed a place to sleep and didn’t want to go home and later when I didn’t
want to go home and later when I didn’t
want to go home and later when I didn’t have a place to stay
have a place to stay
have a place to stay Kol would also teach me how to fight so
Kol would also teach me how to fight so
Kol would also teach me how to fight so I got beat up a lot surprised in fact I
I got beat up a lot surprised in fact I
I got beat up a lot surprised in fact I got beat up all the time I remember this
got beat up all the time I remember this
got beat up all the time I remember this one time this kid punched me square in
one time this kid punched me square in
one time this kid punched me square in the nose and busted my nose again and
the nose and busted my nose again and
the nose and busted my nose again and was dubbed Bloody Mary so Carl would
was dubbed Bloody Mary so Carl would
was dubbed Bloody Mary so Carl would teach me how to fight in the alley
teach me how to fight in the alley
teach me how to fight in the alley behind where he lived and and we would
behind where he lived and and we would
behind where he lived and and we would fight and wrestle and throw each other
fight and wrestle and throw each other
fight and wrestle and throw each other to the floor and the loser might have
to the floor and the loser might have
to the floor and the loser might have had his face pushed into dog poop but
had his face pushed into dog poop but
had his face pushed into dog poop but Carl taught me how to fight and rocky
Carl taught me how to fight and rocky
Carl taught me how to fight and rocky taught me how to get back up he said it
taught me how to get back up he said it
taught me how to get back up he said it ain’t about how hard you can hit it’s
ain’t about how hard you can hit it’s
ain’t about how hard you can hit it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep
about how hard you can get hit and keep
about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward how much you can take and
moving forward how much you can take and
moving forward how much you can take and keep moving forward
keep moving forward
keep moving forward rocky also said he said to Adrian once
rocky also said he said to Adrian once
rocky also said he said to Adrian once you know my mother told me I wasn’t born
you know my mother told me I wasn’t born
you know my mother told me I wasn’t born with much of a brain so I better develop
with much of a brain so I better develop
with much of a brain so I better develop my body which I did I built myself up
my body which I did I built myself up
my body which I did I built myself up like rocky taught me I got buff but I
like rocky taught me I got buff but I
like rocky taught me I got buff but I also learned in that that rocky rocky
also learned in that that rocky rocky
also learned in that that rocky rocky valued education that that it was really
valued education that that it was really
valued education that that it was really important and he knew that when he saw
important and he knew that when he saw
important and he knew that when he saw Adrian but I didn’t know how to read I
Adrian but I didn’t know how to read I
Adrian but I didn’t know how to read I was essentially functionally illiterate
was essentially functionally illiterate
was essentially functionally illiterate when I left high school one point two
when I left high school one point two
when I left high school one point two GPAs if memory serves you know it’s kind
GPAs if memory serves you know it’s kind
GPAs if memory serves you know it’s kind of a miracle though I’m not proud of it
of a miracle though I’m not proud of it
of a miracle though I’m not proud of it but you know kind of a miracle I made it
but you know kind of a miracle I made it
but you know kind of a miracle I made it that far so me Karen Karen was my first
that far so me Karen Karen was my first
that far so me Karen Karen was my first college instructor at Long Beach City
college instructor at Long Beach City
college instructor at Long Beach City College she was the hardest teacher I’ve
College she was the hardest teacher I’ve
College she was the hardest teacher I’ve ever had to this day she’s brilliant she
ever had to this day she’s brilliant she
ever had to this day she’s brilliant she went to Yale double PhD program double
went to Yale double PhD program double
went to Yale double PhD program double masters in sociology and
masters in sociology and
masters in sociology and african-american studies she she’s the
african-american studies she she’s the
african-american studies she she’s the smartest person I would ever know and a
smartest person I would ever know and a
smartest person I would ever know and a constant cheerleader a Laker girl no
constant cheerleader a Laker girl no
constant cheerleader a Laker girl no seriously she’s a real-life Laker girl
seriously she’s a real-life Laker girl
seriously she’s a real-life Laker girl shoutout Laker Girls with a heart of
shoutout Laker Girls with a heart of
shoutout Laker Girls with a heart of gold and in her in her class she would
gold and in her in her class she would
gold and in her in her class she would teach me how to write a sentence a
teach me how to write a sentence a
teach me how to write a sentence a paragraph in a paper properly but I
paragraph in a paper properly but I
paragraph in a paper properly but I worked my hardest I would go to the
worked my hardest I would go to the
worked my hardest I would go to the reading and writing center every single
reading and writing center every single
reading and writing center every single day and and I ended up earning earning a
day and and I ended up earning earning a
day and and I ended up earning earning a b-minus in her class the highest grade I
b-minus in her class the highest grade I
b-minus in her class the highest grade I I got in a class since I could remember
I got in a class since I could remember
I got in a class since I could remember that wasn’t enough I wanted to see I
that wasn’t enough I wanted to see I
that wasn’t enough I wanted to see I want to see how far I could take it you
want to see how far I could take it you
want to see how far I could take it you know my whole life I’ve just been trying
know my whole life I’ve just been trying
know my whole life I’ve just been trying to see how far I could take this and I
to see how far I could take this and I
to see how far I could take this and I learned that from my dad rocky when he
learned that from my dad rocky when he
learned that from my dad rocky when he said I’ll come on Adrian it’s true I was
said I’ll come on Adrian it’s true I was
said I’ll come on Adrian it’s true I was nobody but that don’t matter either you
nobody but that don’t matter either you
nobody but that don’t matter either you know cuz I was thinking it really don’t
know cuz I was thinking it really don’t
know cuz I was thinking it really don’t matter if I lose this fight it really
matter if I lose this fight it really
matter if I lose this fight it really don’t matter if this guy opens my head
don’t matter if this guy opens my head
don’t matter if this guy opens my head up either cuz all I want to do is go the
up either cuz all I want to do is go the
up either cuz all I want to do is go the distance nobody’s ever gone the distance
distance nobody’s ever gone the distance
distance nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed and if I can go that distance
with Creed and if I can go that distance
with Creed and if I can go that distance you see that bell rings and I’m still
you see that bell rings and I’m still
you see that bell rings and I’m still standing I’m gonna know for the first
standing I’m gonna know for the first
standing I’m gonna know for the first time in my life see that I weren’t just
time in my life see that I weren’t just
time in my life see that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood with
another bum from the neighborhood with
another bum from the neighborhood with Karen’s help I learned how to learn how
Karen’s help I learned how to learn how
Karen’s help I learned how to learn how to go the distance and wasn’t just
to go the distance and wasn’t just
to go the distance and wasn’t just another bum from the neighborhood then I
another bum from the neighborhood then I
another bum from the neighborhood then I met my trainer my coach meet Mel Mel is
met my trainer my coach meet Mel Mel is
met my trainer my coach meet Mel Mel is the eternal coach to so so many people
the eternal coach to so so many people
the eternal coach to so so many people Mel kicked my butt
Mel kicked my butt
Mel kicked my butt and trained me up but not in boxing in
and trained me up but not in boxing in
and trained me up but not in boxing in acting and teaching but Mel is Mickey I
acting and teaching but Mel is Mickey I
acting and teaching but Mel is Mickey I mean short of burgess Meredith he is
mean short of burgess Meredith he is
mean short of burgess Meredith he is Mickey I knew Mel was Mickey ever since
Mickey I knew Mel was Mickey ever since
Mickey I knew Mel was Mickey ever since we met and then I don’t know one day we
we met and then I don’t know one day we
we met and then I don’t know one day we just became friends
just became friends
just became friends but Mickey Tarak II how to direct his
but Mickey Tarak II how to direct his
but Mickey Tarak II how to direct his punches how to direct this energy to
punches how to direct this energy to
punches how to direct this energy to make an impact but more than that
make an impact but more than that
make an impact but more than that Mickey looked out for rocky guiding him
Mickey looked out for rocky guiding him
Mickey looked out for rocky guiding him along
along
along traversing this this knife’s edge
traversing this this knife’s edge
traversing this this knife’s edge throughout his journey where he could
throughout his journey where he could
throughout his journey where he could fall either way and that’s what Mel has
fall either way and that’s what Mel has
fall either way and that’s what Mel has done for me
done for me
done for me he’s the sage I mean he wouldn’t say so
he’s the sage I mean he wouldn’t say so
he’s the sage I mean he wouldn’t say so but he is this is a story of survival
but he is this is a story of survival
but he is this is a story of survival survival of poverty ray
survival of poverty ray
survival of poverty ray face education finding my identity and
face education finding my identity and
face education finding my identity and then some and like every hero’s journey
then some and like every hero’s journey
then some and like every hero’s journey it’s a story about resurrection and love
it’s a story about resurrection and love
it’s a story about resurrection and love love costs it cost you something if
love costs it cost you something if
love costs it cost you something if you’re doing it right it cost you
you’re doing it right it cost you
you’re doing it right it cost you something deep deep down inside if
something deep deep down inside if
something deep deep down inside if you’re doing it right and every one of
you’re doing it right and every one of
you’re doing it right and every one of these people every single one of them
these people every single one of them
these people every single one of them have paid a price and spent something
have paid a price and spent something
have paid a price and spent something deep inside by just knowing me so as you
deep inside by just knowing me so as you
deep inside by just knowing me so as you can see folks we don’t get there alone
can see folks we don’t get there alone
can see folks we don’t get there alone we all of us always need allies I mean
we all of us always need allies I mean
we all of us always need allies I mean rocky had allies like every hero rocky
rocky had allies like every hero rocky
rocky had allies like every hero rocky had Paulie Mickey and Adrian I had Carl
had Paulie Mickey and Adrian I had Carl
had Paulie Mickey and Adrian I had Carl Karen Mel and my probation officer yep
Karen Mel and my probation officer yep
Karen Mel and my probation officer yep last time I saw Alvin Bernstein all
last time I saw Alvin Bernstein all
last time I saw Alvin Bernstein all right since the holidays Christmas time
right since the holidays Christmas time
right since the holidays Christmas time I’m going to Trader Joe’s in Long Beach
I’m going to Trader Joe’s in Long Beach
I’m going to Trader Joe’s in Long Beach with a good friend I see Alvin Bernstein
with a good friend I see Alvin Bernstein
with a good friend I see Alvin Bernstein my probation officer when I was a kid
my probation officer when I was a kid
my probation officer when I was a kid she doesn’t know who is of course but I
she doesn’t know who is of course but I
she doesn’t know who is of course but I turned 12 years old again like that and
turned 12 years old again like that and
turned 12 years old again like that and I hide from him in the Trader Joe’s I
I hide from him in the Trader Joe’s I
I hide from him in the Trader Joe’s I mean I I couldn’t go up to him I froze
mean I I couldn’t go up to him I froze
mean I I couldn’t go up to him I froze she says why I say cuz that’s Alvin
she says why I say cuz that’s Alvin
she says why I say cuz that’s Alvin Bernstein lower your voice I mean he was
Bernstein lower your voice I mean he was
Bernstein lower your voice I mean he was formidable you know not to be trifled
formidable you know not to be trifled
formidable you know not to be trifled with and a great guy so so after some
with and a great guy so so after some
with and a great guy so so after some encouragement and see I’m going to miss
encouragement and see I’m going to miss
encouragement and see I’m going to miss my opportunity I go up to him excuse me
my opportunity I go up to him excuse me
my opportunity I go up to him excuse me excuse me are you Alvin Bernstein yeah
excuse me are you Alvin Bernstein yeah
excuse me are you Alvin Bernstein yeah who wants to know
who wants to know
who wants to know no no no no no no no it’s not like that
no no no no no no no it’s not like that
no no no no no no no it’s not like that I remind them who I am my name is
I remind them who I am my name is
I remind them who I am my name is Jeremiah O’Brien you may not remember me
Jeremiah O’Brien you may not remember me
Jeremiah O’Brien you may not remember me but you were my probation officer when I
but you were my probation officer when I
but you were my probation officer when I was a kid you you introduced me to Lisa
was a kid you you introduced me to Lisa
was a kid you you introduced me to Lisa Gamboa a saint he remembers oh yeah yeah
Gamboa a saint he remembers oh yeah yeah
Gamboa a saint he remembers oh yeah yeah yeah I can see it in the eyes I totally
yeah I can see it in the eyes I totally
yeah I can see it in the eyes I totally thought it was BS and me for a minute I
thought it was BS and me for a minute I
thought it was BS and me for a minute I say I say to him well I I just wanna I
say I say to him well I I just wanna I
say I say to him well I I just wanna I just want to tell you how much how much
just want to tell you how much how much
just want to tell you how much how much of a difference you made in my life you
of a difference you made in my life you
of a difference you made in my life you kept me out of trouble during a critical
kept me out of trouble during a critical
kept me out of trouble during a critical time and I want to let you know
time and I want to let you know
time and I want to let you know I just got my master’s degree from UCLA
I just got my master’s degree from UCLA
I just got my master’s degree from UCLA and I’m going to New York to work on my
and I’m going to New York to work on my
and I’m going to New York to work on my next degree and in a moment you know
next degree and in a moment you know
next degree and in a moment you know that that moment between guys will some
that that moment between guys will some
that that moment between guys will some guys anyways where where you don’t show
guys anyways where where you don’t show
guys anyways where where you don’t show any real emotion but you can’t hide that
any real emotion but you can’t hide that
any real emotion but you can’t hide that you know that tear that’s starting to
you know that tear that’s starting to
you know that tear that’s starting to form in your eye
form in your eye
form in your eye he says you made my day look me up when
he says you made my day look me up when
he says you made my day look me up when you get back and we part that was a
you get back and we part that was a
you get back and we part that was a 20-year journey for us both and I knew I
20-year journey for us both and I knew I
20-year journey for us both and I knew I knew in that moment I became what rocky
knew in that moment I became what rocky
knew in that moment I became what rocky taught me that every once in a while a
taught me that every once in a while a
taught me that every once in a while a person comes along and defies the odds
person comes along and defies the odds
person comes along and defies the odds defies defies logic and and fulfills an
defies defies logic and and fulfills an
defies defies logic and and fulfills an incredible dream so everyone needs a
incredible dream so everyone needs a
incredible dream so everyone needs a hero folks every one of us to to to show
hero folks every one of us to to to show
hero folks every one of us to to to show us the tools skills and give us the map
us the tools skills and give us the map
us the tools skills and give us the map for our journey so whoever you are
for our journey so whoever you are
for our journey so whoever you are find your hero find your rocky I don’t
find your hero find your rocky I don’t
find your hero find your rocky I don’t care if it’s in person or a film one or
care if it’s in person or a film one or
care if it’s in person or a film one or many it doesn’t matter it just matters
many it doesn’t matter it just matters
many it doesn’t matter it just matters that you have a hero that you that you
that you have a hero that you that you
that you have a hero that you that you identify with and who inspires you to
identify with and who inspires you to
identify with and who inspires you to something more and then become your own
something more and then become your own
something more and then become your own hero next time I’ll tell you how I
hero next time I’ll tell you how I
hero next time I’ll tell you how I became a college professor
”
Be First to Comment