For some, the defining moment in their life, may be hard to put a finger on. Even less, he or she will recognize the person that influenced the changes that they needed to make in life. For others, as myself, the person, time, and place are easy to identify.
As a kid I was a pretty wild teen. I did as I wanted, sometimes at the expense of others. The others, in my case, typically were my parents. I was on a path of self destruction, and nothing seemed to derail me. Run-ins with the police and court system, were becoming common, but never seemed to get the point across. My grades in school were horrible, and I showed little respect for law and authority figures. I needed a reality check, and to my good fortune. I was handed exactly that.
I got into the habit of sneaking out of the house and hanging with older, negatively influential people. Eventually, my luck ran out and I was arrested for breaking curfew. I was put on probation, but that still didn't do the trick. I got caught sneaking out again, which put me in a pretty sticky situation. I had violated probation and having repeated the first offense, expected the worse. This time I was scared. I had heard what happens to people that violate probation. I entered a full court room and anxiously awaited my case. When called forward, I was surprised to be taken into a side room by the judge. Everyone in the court room stared as they were left alone and I was carted off. What was said and done next had a lasting impression, and I view it as a life-changing moment.
The judge sat me down and glared at me from across the desk. Nothing was said for quite some time. In reflection, I believe he was reading my innermost being. He finally spoke up and asked, “Are you one of those people out there, and do you want to be?” I replied, no, to which he asked, “Then what the heck are you doing in front of me now?” I answered, “I don't know?” He came back with, “What do you mean you don't know, you are in here for the second time for the same offense?” He added that my actions could be perceived as stupid and asked, “iIf I felt that's what I was?” I replied, no. He then asked, “What kind of grades do you make in school?” I reluctantly answered, not so good. He replied, “Have you ever been on honor roll?” I told him that I had not. He came back with something that scared me more than an actual sentence. He made me an offer that if I could get honor roll he would drop all charges. There were also conditions, as to which I had to abide or face the consequences. We agreed, and I set out to achieve what I felt to be an impossible task.
I worked as hard as possible and saw my grades increase to the point that I could be considered one of the smart kids. I not only achieved honor roll, but returned with a 98 percent high honor roll status, something I had never done in my school life. I could see in his body language that he was surprised by such an abrupt change. He asked me, “How hard was it for you to get grades like this?” I replied, not too hard, I just did the work. He was like, “Good I expect you to return from now on with nothing less than a 90 percent average.” I stepped right into that one. School became easy for me and I found myself striving for the elusive 100 percent mark. I returned to court for the last time and received one of the biggest compliments of my life. The judge stated that he rarely achieved grades that high when he was in school, and that I should be truly proud of myself. What a compliment, especially coming from the head honcho.
In addition to my grades, I pretty much stayed out of town and enjoyed the outdoors. I made it known to the judge that I was busy hunting and fishing, and that was keeping me out of trouble. The line that best describes how my father treated the situation is, “Take your kid hunting, and you won't have to hunt for your kid.”
This is so true. I never stepped foot into another court room for a crime that I had committed upon exiting for the last time. The judge finished with the statement, “If you enjoy the outdoors so much, seek a career that keeps you happy and out there. You will never regret doing a job that you love.”
I look at where I am now and recognize, that I have lived up to the advice that he had given: Outdoors writer and owner of my own guide service. Creator of the Bob McNitt Foundation, a non -profit organization geared toward outdoors education. Without the help and support of this special man, I truly believe I would never have lived my life to the fullest potential. In many ways , I feel that I owe the life that I have to him.
The man I speak of is a hero to me! His title is a perfect reflection, as to who he is as a person, The Honorable Howard Sullivan. What a surprise to me that he reads every column that I write. I am truly honored to have met him and to know that he follows my column. Through the help and support of people like him, I truly believe there is a future for the youth of our community. I have big plans for outdoor-related programs in the upcoming year, and ask that he and others like him will lend a hand, in making my vision a reality.
Good wishes and thank you again Judge Sullivan for being the catalyst that changed my life.