Just a Thought:
Final memoir of a “dumb
kid” By Steve Walker
For the past three weeks I
have shared my experiences growing up as a “dumb kid.” From one perspective it
is not too exciting. It is more therapeutic and hopefully inspirational for
those like me who were not expected to accomplish too much in our lives.
Hopefully my sharing my
personal saga as a “dumb kid
” will offer hope to others who have felt the shame of being labeled as such. It is not a feel good experience but it does shape us as to who we really are and what we can become.
” will offer hope to others who have felt the shame of being labeled as such. It is not a feel good experience but it does shape us as to who we really are and what we can become.
Fast forward to my college
years when I applied to St. Mary’s University back in San Antonio
Unfortunately St. Mary’s
denied me admittance due to my bad math scores. Well it was my worst subject.
My second choice was Texas Wesleyan College
in Ft. Worth Texas
They accepted me and I was
thrilled to trek to Ft. Worth since I was always led to believe I would not
even graduate from high school much less attend college. Turned out that fate
was finally on my side as my five years there became a turning point in my less
than lackluster life up to that time. Of course there were major financial
obstacles and the problem with keeping up my grades that were lukewarm to say
the least.
Going to college was
special to me and it was my chance to shine, sort of kinda! The good news was
my father paid for the first three years to include tuition and room and board
in the dormitory. The bad news was he filed bankruptcy in my junior year and I
was on my own and left to my own wiles.
I talked my way back into
school since I lived in the dorm all that time and everyone knew me. Nobody
questioned me when I moved back in without paying. I stalled enough time that
when the bill came finally due, in desperation I went to the president of the
college and informed him I had no money and could he help me. He looked at me
like I was crazy! He told me it took guts to move in the dorm and register with
no money. Fortunately he laughed and took pity on me and said “No one in my 35
years of being president has anyone ever asked me for help!” He got me the
student loan from the loan officer and I went back to class. Maybe for the
first time I wasn’t such a “dumb kid,” after all.
When I was a freshman, I
ran for class president and lost. I ran for Freshman Cheerleader and lost.
Because of bad grades I nearly was put on probation and expelled from school. I
began having “dumb kid” flashbacks!
My junior year was the
first time I enjoyed a modicum of success and my first taste of popularity. I
was elected Varsity Cheerleader, pledged a social fraternity, inducted into the
Drama Fraternity Alpha Psi Omega, elected Vice President of the Young
Republicans, (having met Sen. Barry Goldwater for President in 64 in my
freshmen year) Vice-President of my dorm, Sports Editor of my College Yearbook,
and even had my share of dates although I eventually married my first wife from
that group of dates before shipping off to Viet Nam after graduation. Viet Nam
In my first senior year I
was active in my fraternity and in my second senior year I completed my student
teaching and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” (Mr. T.W.C.) That was a major
turning point in my life. Not bad for a “dumb kid.”
As always, what I write is
“Just a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam
Veteran, former Journalist and Justice of the Peace. His former La Prensa
column, “Ask the Judge,” ran for two years.
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