Last week Maurice Thomas, a 2006 GED graduate, stopped by to share his educational accomplishments.
He received his associate’s degree in fire protection last year and will be graduating from the University of Akron in December with a bachelor’s degree in emergency management.
Maurice, who currently works as a freelance videographer, plans on using his talent to help improve emergency management systems. He hopes to work for FEMA and help the organization become “more proactive, not reactive.”
“The 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina opened my eyes to a lot of things that were going on,” he explained. “I want to be able to help people get through to unexpected hard times.”
Maurice dropped out of high school when he was in the 10th grade so that he could take care of his daughter.
“It was hard because I was a father before I was a man,” he said. “But that’s the only reason why I stopped going to school. I had to provide for my family.”
After seeing where the economy was headed, he decided it was time to finish his education.
“Some people decide to further their education for their children, but I did it for myself,” he said. “This allowed me to better provide for my children and become a better role model.”
Maurice said he wants African-American males to use him as an example.
“If you want something, you have to work for it,” he said. “And that’s what I did.”
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good job reece i wish u well
This part of the post seems contradictory:
“‘Some people decide to further their education for their children, but I did it for myself,” he said. “This allowed me to better provide for my children and become a better role model.'”
I didn’t do it for my children but I did it for my children? What? Either way, congrats Maurice.
Brian,
I think what Maurice meant was that while some people only attempt to advance their lives for their children, he is doing it for himself, which will make him a better man while simultaneously allowing him to provide for his children and show them that it is possible to accomplish what seems impossible.
Thank You Alexia for clearing that up. Brian, please don’t get it confused, my children played a part in my decision to go back to school but in the end I had to make the choice. If I did it for anyone besides myself I wouldn’t of gotten as far as I have. In order to be a leader or a role model you must develop the mind set and the skills to do so. And that comes from with in your self.