"Where single parents write their own success stories"

Success Stories

JOHN'S STORY

John is a writer and lately, he's doing a good job of writing his own success story.

John came to live at Warren Village in 1991 in order to provide for his oldest son, John Jr.

"I wanted to better myself," John says. "And, I wanted to be able to take care of my son. I wanted to show him how to live a good, fulfilling life. And I wanted to continue my college education."

Education has been an important theme in John's life. After graduating from Denver's Manuel High School, he began his secondary education at Trinidad State Junior College. After his son John Jr. was born, he transferred to George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, where he had a track scholarship.

While John attended school in Oregon, John Jr. stayed in Denver. The separation was difficult, so John returned to Colorado, gained custody, and came to live at Warren Village.

While at Warren Village, John worked part-time and attended Metro State full-time. He majored in independent studies for film, to pursue his dream of screenwriting. "Having a dream kept me going," John says. Warren Village also helped him stay on track.

"Warren Village kept me within a structure," John says. "At that time, it was pretty easy to get involved with drinking and partying. Geri Brown (former Family Services Director) was adamant about following the rules to live [at Warren Village]. People like Naomi Taggart (Resources Director) kept me on the straight and narrow. I had a lot of people at Warren Village looking at me. They saw character in me that I didn't see."

That character and hard work helped him finish his education. John not only earned his Bachelor's degree, but went on to obtain a Master's degree in Language and Communications from Regis University in 2002. John also has his Adult Learning Certificate from Regis University, and his teacher's license from Metro State.

Though he still writes, John has been teaching elementary school for six years, and currently teaches 5th grade at a local elementary school.

Since his days at Warren Village, John has become a father to two more boys-Alex, 14, and Trevaun, 12. He has stayed busy as a single dad with custody of Trevaun and John Jr., who is now 18. Trevaun, was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, has special needs, but John says "he's very loving and has a beautiful smile."

As a parent, John wants to make good choices. "My dad was a very heavy drinker," John says. "The neighborhood where I grew up was filled with drugs and alcohol. I made different choices than a lot of my friends. Some of those friends are dead; some are in the penitentiary. I always said I would never let my children go through that. I would not abuse my children. I tell my kids they can do anything. I was never told that by my father figure. I want my kids to know that I love them for exactly who they are, no matter what they do. "

He goes on to say, "As a teacher, I see that a lot of kids just want to be loved."

While John teaches these things to children, he also wants to be a positive influence on adults, especially ones who have experienced abuse. He has returned to Warren Village to teach evening classes and as John says, "It's wonderful to express to the residents that they are wonderful individuals."

John advises single parents to think about their choices, something he has strived to do. "Choices-bad or good," he says, "have consequences. Those consequences can hold you back, be a blessing or a curse. I want residents to never forget who they are and that they have a purpose. Everybody's got a purpose."

John is a natural teacher, but his dream is still in screenwriting and writing books.

From the looks of things, he will have a story worth writing.