1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Everybody's Bill Courtney again with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: Let's continue with part two of our conversation with Aaron 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: Smith from KASSA of North Mississippi and Thomas, a former 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: foster child. Right after these brief messages from our generals sponsors, 5 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: and now we hear from Aaron about how she and 6 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: Thomas actually met. 7 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 2: It's not normal that we would get involved in a 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: child that is ever eighteen. So Thomas came to school here, 9 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 2: which I think this would be pretty interesting to hear 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: for other people. Thomas came to school here as a 11 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 2: child that's been in foster care for a majority part 12 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: of his life. One would think that come into college, 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 2: since only less than three percent of children that are 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: in foster care make it to college. In less than 15 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: half graduate high school. And so when he came here, 16 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: he was under the impression, aside from the scholarships he received, 17 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: that he would not have to worry about any funding, 18 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: and that's not been the case. And so he struggled 19 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: to get in the classes that he needed to and 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: you know, for I guess a year ago when he 21 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: came here, he started out doing decent in his classes. 22 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 2: But Thomas realized what freedom was and so didn't do 23 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 2: so well his first semester. 24 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 3: Every freshman, yeah, interesting. 25 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: But usually refreshman has somebody to fall back on, whereas 26 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: he did not. 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: I do. Yeah, what do you do? 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 4: I worked for Tide. It's a cleaning service on campus. 29 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 4: And I drive around this big orange truck and I 30 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 4: get I get the students like laundry bag and I 31 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 4: throw it to the back and I take it to the. 32 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: Laundry map work at the ticket office. 33 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 4: Thirteen dollars an hour. Oh yeah, I want to do 34 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 4: that during the summer. 35 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: He works at the ticket office too. 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 4: I mean another thing also, I mean CPS, Like during 37 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 4: the school year in mid fall. 38 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 5: He just said, how. 39 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 4: Are you going to pay for it? 40 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 5: Yeah? 41 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: And they asked me to look into private student loans 42 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 4: and I did. And because the Mississippi's age a majority 43 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 4: is twenty one, and with me being eighteen, the. 44 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 3: Hell wouldn't he just get pelgrams and be done with it. 45 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: He does, but doesn't fund all of a school. 46 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, what's funding the rest of his school? 47 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: He received some scholarships, he received some COVID assistant at 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: his job and his job, but that's nay, it's about 49 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 2: twenty seven thousand dollars to go to school here. So 50 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: needless to say, we he did not do well to 51 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: fall and really, I mean pretty much gave up in 52 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: the spring. And so that's kind of where we stepped in. 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: And we were working on some things, some resources with 54 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 2: the university, and so we had a meeting at the 55 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: Chancellor's office and trying to get Thomas back on the 56 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 2: right path. And I didn't know anything about him. As 57 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: a matter of fact, I walked into the I see 58 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: him talking to him on the phone, and he's sitting 59 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: right in front of me, and neither one of us 60 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: realize that we're talking to one another, and so we 61 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: walk in, we go to our meeting, and I'll never 62 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: forget one of the first things that I asked him 63 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 2: was do you have one consistent adult in your life 64 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: that you can depend on? And he said no. And 65 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: that's it's really stuck with me, simply because no child, 66 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: no youth, no adult should not have somebody that they 67 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 2: don't feel like they can depend on or feel like 68 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: they can talk to. And you know, it's only been really, 69 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: I mean three months since we've met each other, and 70 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: you know, I feel like I have a little brother, 71 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: but also you know, somewhat of a son too. And 72 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: I just I talk about Thomas a lot to my staff, 73 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: and just you know how much he does he does 74 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: mean to me, and like I get excited for him 75 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: when he tells me he made an a on. 76 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 3: His client and his clients, which he made his first 77 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: he did. 78 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, but you and I know, and I know Thomas 79 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: knows too, But you and I know that freshmen and 80 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: sophomore courses are a long way from a degree. 81 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: Absolutely, he's not getting out of college eaesy now. 82 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: But Thomas, I mean, cards are stacked against you, bro. Yeah, 83 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: you're you're you're going to try to be in the 84 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: less than three percent percent. 85 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, can you do it? 86 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 4: I know I can and I. 87 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 3: No, No, I know you're smarted. 88 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 5: Yeah. 89 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 3: Can you handle yourself? I can't? Yeah? 90 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 5: Yeah. 91 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 3: What's going to make the difference for you? 92 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 4: I mean, I have aaron, Now, I have a like 93 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 4: you said, like she said, I have a consistent adult. 94 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 4: Now I have somebody. 95 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 5: Yeah. 96 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, you sure when you get pissed off? What about 97 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: when she says something you don't like that's happened? I mean, 98 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: tell me about it. Oh, tell me that you can't 99 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: talk now, Thomas, you tell me about it. 100 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: We have learned very quickly that Thomas is not the 101 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 2: best online class taker, and as we're walking. 102 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 3: Out, that would be horrible. 103 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: By the way, at online at the boards, man, I 104 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: can't sit there and read a computer. 105 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: But we're working on our budgeting and just some other 106 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: you know, life lessons. 107 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 3: Wow the hell are you supposed to budget money when 108 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 3: you've never had? 109 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: That's right. 110 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: I remember at manassas a kid I was coaching. He 111 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: got a job on the weekends and he made like 112 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: two hundred and sixty dollars, and I promise you that 113 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: was the first time he'd ever seen two hundred and 114 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: six dollars in one place in his life. And he 115 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: promptly went out and bought a two hundred and twenty dollars. 116 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 3: Pair of shoes. 117 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: And he had shoes, but he bought the two hundred 118 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: and twenty dollars pair of shoes. And while I was there, 119 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: he bought lunch and cookies for he and his three friends. 120 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: And after working all weekend, he had a pair of shoes, 121 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: a lunch, and a buck fifty in his pocket when 122 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: he showed up Monday, and I said, dude, are you 123 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 1: for real? And he's like, yeah, I can afford it. 124 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: I said, you can afford I said, my kids can't 125 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: afford you that expensive. I said, how do you figure 126 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: you can afford it? He said, I had it in 127 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: my pocket. Not much budgeting going on there. Yeah, so 128 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: that one hundred and fifty bucks you had didn't last long? 129 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 3: I guess no. 130 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 4: With my job, each paycheck is about a little bit 131 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 4: over five hundred. 132 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 5: Dollars, So it's every what week? Every two weeks? Yeah? 133 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: So you have a job, yeah, and you make five 134 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: hundred bucks every two weeks? Yeah, and you blew it 135 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: at first? 136 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 5: Yeah? 137 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 3: What'd you buy? What you get? Tell me the truth? 138 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 3: What'd you spend it on? 139 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 4: I mean, I'm a real big food person, so, and 140 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 4: I don't like going to crawl places. 141 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 5: You don't like the way to wear, crowded places. 142 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 3: You don't like crowded places and big food. 143 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, so I just what'd you do Morton's. 144 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 4: I'd spend a lot of money on those delivery fees, 145 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 4: and I constantly deliver food to my dorm. 146 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: So we're worried about how we're going to afford tuition, 147 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: but we're going to spend a whole bunch of. 148 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 3: Money on a hamburger. 149 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 5: Yeah. 150 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, takes a minute to figure out that doesn't work. 151 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, it does. 152 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 3: So when you pointed that out, he didn't like it 153 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 3: very much. 154 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: But I mean, you know, on one hand, do I 155 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: blame him? 156 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 3: I mean, of course not, you know. 157 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's absolutely awesome that you that we 158 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: could sit here and actually talk a little tug in 159 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: cheek about a serious issue. 160 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 3: But what you get on him about? 161 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 2: Tell me, well, he told me on the way up 162 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 2: the stairs that he's going to take all independent study classes. 163 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: And I said, no, you're not. And he said, yes 164 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: I am. I said, no you're not. He says, who 165 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: says I can? I said I did. He said, well 166 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: that's all that's available. I said, don't you worry. We'll 167 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: find it. We'll find a way to get you in 168 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: the classes you need. 169 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 3: Did you get pussed off about that? 170 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: I think he's ever been mad at me before, but 171 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: he was. Unless I don't answer the phone. He really 172 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: likes to talk on the phone. 173 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 3: But he was fussing with you. 174 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 2: He always knows that I'm gonna win, so and if 175 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: he had to figured it out, now you know, I'm 176 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: just I'm super thankful that we have one that I 177 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 2: am able to be there for him, but two that 178 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: we just what I feel like. He might disagree what 179 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: I feel like. We've developed just such a strong bond. 180 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: You know. I do talk to my parents and I 181 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: just talk about just like what he is, the epitome 182 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: of resilient in the dictionary, just like everything that he's 183 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: been through. And I know that there's still some things 184 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: that I don't know about, and you know, I just 185 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: think back and I'm like, gosh, I've had such a 186 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: good life and there's so many people out there that haven't. 187 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 2: And it reminds me of why I do what I do. 188 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 2: But also like why when it turns five o'clock, I 189 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 2: don't mind to keep doing what I'm doing. 190 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: That's awesome. I want to. 191 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: I want to ask you. I think it's important that 192 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: our listeners understand this. They said you were going to 193 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: college and everything would be taken care of. That's what 194 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: they told you when they gave you the order lease 195 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 1: and dropped you off with one hundred and fifty bucks. 196 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, is that true? It's not in the you 197 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 3: were lied to. 198 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 4: I was, yeah, and I had a full scholarship somewhere else. 199 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 4: So I was I was a little mad. I was 200 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 4: a little perturbed. Mid August, I mean mid fall semester, 201 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 4: I was told by a person in the agency that 202 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 4: the funding was cut short and that they would not 203 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 4: pay for everything. And I was blatantly asked, how are 204 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 4: you going to pay for it? At eighteen years old? 205 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: And you were sitting there saying, well, that's the question 206 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: you were going to ask them, Yeah, how are you 207 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: paying for this? 208 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 3: And now they're asking you. 209 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 4: And they told me to look into private loans, and 210 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 4: so I did. And because I'm not twenty one and 211 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 4: that's Mississippi's age of majority, no private loan lender would 212 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 4: lend to me like they. 213 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 5: Would other people. 214 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 3: So it's tell. 215 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: Grants, it's a job, it's everywhere you can scrounge up money, 216 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: and it's still short. 217 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 218 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: So if anybody's listening to us today that wants to 219 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: give to the Thomas College, right, absolutely, right, yeah, you 220 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: know what, you know what, I'm dead serious right now, 221 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: all you've gone through and the resilience you've shown, and 222 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: the fact that you're here and trying, I hope somebody 223 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: is listening to this and reaches out to you, Aaron, 224 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,479 Speaker 1: that would be fitting. 225 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 3: So y'all. 226 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: After the interview, Aaron said that we get to share 227 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: contact information, which is important because some of you may 228 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: be inspired to reach out to help Thomas, or maybe 229 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: you have questions about starting your own cost of program 230 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: or at least becoming a volunteer. If you're interested in 231 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: hearing more from Aaron herself, her email is e Smith 232 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: at KASA of North Mississippi dot com. That's E Smith 233 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: at KASA of North Mississippi dot com. And her phone 234 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: number and she'll take your call is six six two 235 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 1: eight three two four seven four seven. 236 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 3: We'll be right back. 237 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: So there's these unserved people like you or underserved. What 238 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: does what what does a What does CASA mean to 239 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: those kids? 240 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 4: Oh? I would say it quite literally means everything. When 241 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 4: you're in the system, there's there's not a whole lot 242 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 4: of care. 243 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: Uh. 244 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 4: It may seem that way when you're young, but once 245 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 4: you get out of the toddler age, there are some 246 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 4: workers who tell you, you know their your chances of 247 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 4: adoption are quite limited because you're no longer a toddler 248 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 4: or a baby. You're no longer something that adults can 249 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 4: shape into who they want to be, and you start 250 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 4: feeling like a more of a burden even though you 251 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 4: are their job. 252 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 5: You start feeling like a job to the workers. 253 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 4: And when I was assigned to Aaron and when she 254 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 4: was put on my case, I didn't trust her at 255 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 4: first because like, yeah, I mean, like a lot of 256 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 4: you learned pretty early on in the system that from 257 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 4: the social workers that trusting is not a good thing. 258 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 4: You have a worker come to where you are and 259 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 4: they say, I'm just going to take you out to eat, 260 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 4: and they take you out to eat, and then they 261 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 4: bring you back to the office and the next thing 262 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 4: you know, there's another worker coming back with all your 263 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 4: stuff and you're moving somewhere else. And you thought that 264 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 4: you were just going. 265 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 3: Out to eat. 266 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 5: Wow, And so I didn't I didn't trust her at all. 267 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 2: But in fact, he didn't want to meet me. I 268 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: did not trying to cancel five minutes before. 269 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 4: I figured she was just another another state worker who 270 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 4: said they were going to do a whole lot of 271 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 4: stuff and said they were going to provide this. 272 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: But do the kids are the kids starting to understand 273 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 1: that these are not state workers and state employees with 274 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: their volunteers, and once they find out that these people 275 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: actually giving their time doesn't make a difference. 276 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 5: It does. 277 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 4: Yeah, it makes a huge difference. It makes children want 278 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 4: to try at life. 279 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 3: It gives them a little credibility with ye. 280 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 5: Yeah, it does. 281 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 3: Little street cred from costa. 282 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, and much needed street cred. 283 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. I imagine. 284 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm trying to put myself in your shoes, 285 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: and I would imagine once I found out somebody was 286 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: actually given their time, I would at least give them 287 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: a half a second of a chance. Because they're not 288 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 1: here because they have to be, or they're not here 289 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: to get a check. They're here because they actually want 290 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: to try. 291 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 5: Yeah. 292 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: Now I may still be a butthole to them, but 293 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: I'm at least give them a chance. Yes, I mean 294 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: is that right? 295 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 4: That's right? Like I said, it really makes you want 296 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 4: to try and everything it makes you. It gives you 297 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 4: that parent to make proud, and a lot of children 298 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 4: don't have those parents. And what's the point in trying 299 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 4: if you don't have someone to show you know that 300 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 4: you made that a or you got into college, or 301 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 4: you got a scholarship. 302 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 3: You know. 303 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: My dad left when I was four and I in 304 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: no way have gone through the trauma or rough things 305 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: you have. And I am in awe of you being 306 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: in college. I'll want you to know thank you. But 307 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: my dad didn't have much to do with me, and 308 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: he died recently, and I'm a fifty three year old man, 309 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: and I still suffer on Father's Day. I was a 310 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: pretty good athlete, and my father held a couple of 311 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: records in and around Memphis for many years, and he 312 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: always read the sports page. In high school, I was 313 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: good enough that a lot of my stuff was in 314 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: the sports page, So excuse me. So I knew Damn 315 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: good and Well that he and we share the same name. 316 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: I knew Damn good and Well that he was reading 317 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: the sports page and saw his son in the paper 318 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: achieving stuff. Yet he never attended a single thing I 319 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: ever played in. And I lettered in six sports in 320 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: high school. So there's plenty of opportunities. And when you 321 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: say that, you get to a point when you don't 322 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: have anybody to make proud, why even try. I do 323 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: identify with that part of it, and it's real, and 324 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: you do need somebody to care for you that's not 325 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: paid to or obligated to. But they're doing it because 326 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: they just have some love in their heart. And fortunately 327 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: I had some people like that in my life. Aaron, Yes, 328 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: so you and your volunteers are those people. 329 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I do want to say so I am 330 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 2: paid staff. 331 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: But Thomas right, and my understanding is you didn't really 332 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: want to be paid staff. 333 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: That is true. How do you know these things? 334 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: I do research? And so you didn't really want to 335 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: be paid staff. And for our listeners to understand it 336 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: was basically, no, you're going to take it, and you did. 337 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: But although you're paid staff, you didn't do this for 338 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: a job. 339 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: That's right. Yeah. Actually, when I started, I had no 340 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: intentions of being employed by this program. I thought I 341 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: was going to be a volunteer or serve on the 342 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 2: board for the rest of my life. And really, as 343 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: I mentioned earlier, I knew that I was passionate about people, 344 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: passionate about all walks life, and I really along the 345 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 2: way found what I was incredibly passionate about that I 346 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 2: don't mind doing twenty four to seven. I don't mind 347 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: doing you know, any time of the day, anytime of 348 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: the night. But you know so, so it led. 349 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: Me here, what does it mean to you Thomas, what 350 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: does it mean to you? 351 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: Means? 352 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 5: It means everything. 353 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 4: It means a lot to me, not only for my 354 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 4: future until I turned twenty one, but also it's nice 355 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 4: to know that people like Aaron will still be there 356 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 4: for all the kids that will be in the system 357 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 4: or who will join the system after I leave it. 358 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 3: What's your degree in? What are you majoring in? 359 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 4: Psychology with a minor and criminal justice? 360 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 3: So what do you want to do? 361 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 5: I want to go on. 362 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 4: To become a forensic psychologist and aid in the evaluation 363 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 4: and the diagnosis of specifically people who commit sexual assaults 364 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 4: to children and make sure that they cannot file or 365 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 4: claim criminal insanity and make sure they are put in 366 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 4: the right institution. 367 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: And as you might guess, this career choice was inspired 368 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: by Thomas's own story. Sickeningly, his adoptive brother, who sexually 369 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: abused claimed criminal insanity. Say I'm not nearly as politically 370 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: correct as I should be. I would say, that's a 371 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: whole sexually abusing kids, wrapping them with electrical cords, and 372 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: the things that you've had to go through, young man, 373 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: you have beared more than somebody on the faces planet 374 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: should have to bear. And the fact that you're standing 375 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: here with the smile on your face in college, with 376 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 1: dreams and goals is not only a testament to the 377 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: human spirit, but you as an individual. You're an impressive 378 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: kid and I wish you the best. And what do 379 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: you think you'll do with your spare time when you 380 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: get older? 381 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 4: I hope to start something quite like Casa wherever I go, 382 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 4: because I mean wherever you go, there's always going to 383 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 4: be children. There's always going to be children who are abused, 384 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 4: and there's always going to be a need for somebody 385 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 4: to interact that abuse and show them that, you know, 386 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 4: love is a real thing and that they do have 387 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 4: a parent to make them try. 388 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: Thomas, you are such a freaking problem child. You are 389 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: a problem. You should be putting the home and injected 390 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: at eight years old to chill out because you are 391 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: such a problem. You're an amazing kid. Thank you, Aaron. 392 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 3: That's got to be the payoff, right it is? 393 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 2: You know, I I just wanted to follow up with 394 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 2: you know, you talked about how did he make it 395 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 2: to college? And Thomas is super humble when it comes 396 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 2: to how smart he is. 397 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 3: I think it's pretty evident. 398 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, I mean he made a thirty five on 399 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 2: the reading portion of his act, and he's not going 400 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 2: to tell you all that the highest score, perfect score, 401 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 2: thirty six. 402 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 3: Where'd that come from? 403 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 4: I honestly don't know. I didn't study for that thing. 404 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 3: What's that? 405 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 5: I did not study for that? 406 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: You know what, maybe just maybe the silver lining behind 407 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: all of it is somewhere in your genetics in the 408 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: back that they at least left you a big, massive. 409 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:08,120 Speaker 3: Beautiful brain. 410 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: Thank you. You know, maybe that happened for you. Maybe 411 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: you can, maybe you can take that family heirloom. 412 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 3: I hope I do too. We'll be right back. So 413 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 3: you do you like to read? 414 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 5: I do, yeah, I quite enjoy it. 415 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 3: What kind of fiction? Nonfiction? Old news? 416 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 1: Uh? 417 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 4: It sounds really boring, But I really like reading, uh 418 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 4: nonfiction history. I like reading straight up history book. 419 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 3: That is not boring. Do you ever watch a history 420 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 3: channel Discovery? I do like on the old ships and 421 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 3: stuff things I do well. 422 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: So one of my degrees is in English, and it 423 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: was not because I care much about sentenced diagrams. It's 424 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: because I like literature and also write, and I wrote 425 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: a book, and so I enjoy writing. And typically when 426 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 1: you like reading, you also enjoy writing. Do you like 427 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: to write? 428 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 4: I do? Yeah, I mainly write poetry. Uh yeah, And 429 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 4: I recently started writing my own sort of autobiography. 430 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 3: Good gracious, now there's a movie. Yeah all right? So 431 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 3: are you writing your autobiography? You know what? 432 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: I'm serious When you finish that, I want to see it. 433 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: All right, So let's make that deal for one day. 434 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 5: But you're doing poetry, Yeah, I do. 435 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 4: It's always been a great outlet for all of the 436 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 4: numerous emotions that I felt going through the system, and 437 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 4: it provides a sort of release for all that stress 438 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 4: and anger and emotions. 439 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 3: So it's a white event, it is. 440 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 5: Yeah. 441 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 3: So what have you written? If you were in something recently? 442 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 3: You got anything? 443 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 2: Yeah? 444 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 4: I wrote a poem. Yeah, I wrote a poem. It's 445 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 4: called what a Thing to Dream? 446 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 3: What a Thing to Dream? 447 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: Is that? 448 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 3: It? No? Right there? 449 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 4: Yeah? I do? 450 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 5: I have it right here with yeah. 451 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 4: Sure. So it starts by saying, going from home to home, 452 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 4: forever hating this endless room, told to keep the faith 453 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 4: and hope, Yet no one stayed to teach me to cope, 454 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 4: wanting to speak up? 455 00:22:59,320 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 5: Yet who will? 456 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 4: And if done, will it even make a difference? All 457 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 4: I truly desire is a mother's embrace and to see 458 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 4: a smile on a father's face, to finally know that 459 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 4: I can really call them my own. 460 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 5: What a thing to. 461 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 4: Dream and so far fetched, it seems. For now, that's 462 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 4: how I shall cope. It is how I will keep 463 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 4: my faith and hope. 464 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 3: So written by Thomas. Well done, young man. 465 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 5: Thank you. 466 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 3: It's beautiful, Aaron. First time you read it. 467 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: You cry, Oh yeah, I bet you like a baby. 468 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. I like to corry a lot. I got a 469 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 2: hard outer shell, but got a big. 470 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 3: Short you know. Thomas. 471 00:23:53,920 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: Again, no, no comparison with all that you've dealt with, 472 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of people in this world that 473 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: can identify with the wanting a mother's embrace and pride 474 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: in a father's face. Whatever line that was I'm paraphrasing, 475 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: I don't have in front of me, but I think 476 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: that was closed. 477 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 3: I don't want to screw up your poems. 478 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: And I mean, at the end of the day, I think, 479 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: you know, that's what human beings want. They want to 480 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: feel cared for, they want to feel safe, they want 481 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: to feel loved. And you know, Aaron, really that's what 482 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: your organization does. 483 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,439 Speaker 2: It does you try a. 484 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: Bunch of volunteers making a difference, a bunch of average 485 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 1: folks making a massive difference in the world. I am 486 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 1: absolutely in all of both of you and Thomas. You're 487 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: not ready yet, but my hope is that you will 488 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: join the Army of normal Folks. The problem I don't 489 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: know that you can because you're so abnormal. You're you're 490 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: such ah You're an inspiration, young man and Aaron. My goodness. 491 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: Girl from Yazoo City grows up divorced family, learns from 492 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: her mom and her grandmother, comes to Old miss joins 493 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: a sorority, does a little work for a philanthropy, and 494 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: ends up starting a philanthropy serving kids across two counties 495 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: called North Mississippi and changing lives. You are an absolute 496 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: member of the Army of Normal Folks, and it has 497 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: been my absolute honor to beat you both. 498 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 5: Thank you, Thank you likewise. 499 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: And thank you for joining us this week. To join 500 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: an Army of normal folks, go to normal Folks dot 501 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: us and sign up to become a member of the movement. 502 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: We would love to hear what you're doing in your community. 503 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 1: If there's stories you know about that you think we 504 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: should tell, write me anytime at Bill at normalfolks dot us. 505 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: And if you enjoy this episode, subscribe, rate and review at, 506 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 1: share it with friends and on social all the things 507 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: that can help us grow an army of normal folks. 508 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: I'm Bill Courtney. I'll see you next week.