Optimism and Hope



What Is Hope?


words clipped to a rope


Many individuals can relate to feeling hopeless and finding they do not have not even family support around to help them through their tough moments. We want to give up but don't realize God sends us messages in different ways. This story shows God uses the TV to give him a way out of his situation.

Hope: A belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.

My story:

When my mother took me out of high school, I knew that my life would become difficult because we were taught that you have to have an education to make it in life. Since I was only 16, I really started feeling hopeless in life because I didn't know what I was going to do.

I worked to help my mother pay bills and that was all I could do at the time. Then she started telling me that when I turn 18, I had to get out of the house. I couldn't understand what was going on because my brother was older than I was and she didn't want to kick him out.

As I started nearing my 18th birthday, I was really beginning to feel hopeless because I didn't have an idea on what I was going to do. One night while I was watching television, a commercial came on about joining the Navy.

The next day I called the number on the commercial and set up an appointment to meet the recruiter. When he heard about me not having a high school diploma he knew I had a slim chance. I explained to him that I was going to be homeless in a few months. He told me he would see what he could do.

About a month later he called me and asked me to come to his office. I went in and he explained to me he would have to pull some strings to get me in the service but I had to promise him that I would make the best of this opportunity he was trying to create for me and I did.

He was able to get me in the military without a high school diploma and I fulfilled my end of the bargain by doing eight years and receiving an Honorable Discharge from the service.

Now I have a status in life, that many don't, and an ability to make my life a little easier because of the decision I made and the help I received.

Copyright © 2009 Vernon Samuel
--- Submitted by Lisa Anderson --- Pennsylvania

About The Author: Vernon Samuel, a self published author and C.E.O of BYRD Administration Inc, published his first book, "Virgo, She did it her way". The book is based on his own life story. Mr. Samuel encourages and motivates individuals not to allow their past to determine their future. A survivor and witness of life's twist and turns, Vernon Samuel is living proof that struggles and people do not have to tear you down. No matter what you go through or what has happened to you, only you can hold yourself back from achieving your dreams and wanting more out of your life.


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