The first week back after Summer Camp was over, all I did was sleep and lay around. As I began to recover, I became aware of a new feeling. A sense of something positive. Optimism. An encouraging feeling.

I had been at most a mediocre student in high school. My overall grade average for my two years of Junior College was a lackluster 2.3 on a scale of 4. I was a solid C student. I had been hoping that 6 months active duty in the Marine Corps would spark a positive change. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high but this was definitely something different. I was actually looking forward to the Fall semester of 1965.

I realized that I had to get my act together. I had to register and get my classes. I actually felt motivated. I thought I also might find an interim job for the rest of the summer to pick up some cash.

During my exploration, I ran into Mike, a friend from swimming. He was excited to share some news.

The Job Corps is hiring, he said excitedly. Full-time work but you work at night so you can still go to school. And they pay $600 a month for full-time night counselors. Mike had my attention.

I hurried home and got on the phone. Everything Mike had said was true. There were a few catches. To get the job, you had to go through an extensive series interviews. Another catch. The job was at Camp Parks – an old Army Base in Pleasanton. Pleasanton was an hour each way over the bay across the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge from my home. I was still interested and made an appointment.

Yes, it was a full hour drive one-way. I completed the application and passed the first interview. The interview was thorough and over an hour long. The supervisor who interviewed me was bright, articulate and well prepared. A fit African American, he had a Master’s Degree in psychology and was working on his Doctorate at Hayward State. The job was to be a counselor of a barracks of about 50 trainees from 9 pm to 5 am Sunday night through Thursday night. And, yes, it was ok to study on the job once the trainees were settled in for the night. I had one more interview but Rudy, the supervisor, was encouraging.

As I drove back home, I was grateful I had started the Job Corps process before I signed up for school. This way I could schedule all my classes for the afternoon so I could get some sleep.

I felt fortunate for the Job Corps opportunity. After the Marine Corps, I was looking for greater independence. The job and the money would expand my world. As I registered and scheduled my classes, I had an even greater appreciation for the new, sparkling campus of CSM – the College of San Mateo. Everyone was fresh and excited. With 2 years of college and 6 months active duty in the Marine Corps, I felt like one of the more mature students. A Marine. A new campus. A new job. I felt like I had a golden opportunity to get some real traction and make a fresh and positive start on the rest of my life. I was still not sure exactly what that would look like but I felt a strong sense of real determination. This is the real deal, I thought. I can finally begin to make something of myself.  No more mediocrity. I was determined to get all A’s and B’s and get into a first-class school like the University of California, Berkeley.

I passed my final interview at the Job Corps. I was scheduled to start the week before school started. Rudy introduced me to a couple of the other counselors Ray and Ken. They were about my same age 20 and 21. They were already working at Camp Parks. They lived at one of the faculty dorms on campus. The rent was $25 a month and there was a mess hall like the Marine Corps. Food was free for faculty. The more I learned, the more encouraged I became.

With my job squared away, I returned to CSM. I bought my books and toured the campus to see where my classes would be taught. I was taking a history class, a psychology class and a writing course. Three hours, 3 times a week actual class time. But lots of reading and writing. I had my work cut out for me. The difference this time was that I was in school to learn. No more fooling around. This was for real. It was a sobering thought but it felt good. It also occurred to me that reserve weekends once a month were going to be a challenge. I would be done with drill on Sunday just in time to drive from the San Bruno Reserve Center to Camp Parks. Sleep was going to be at a premium.  

I am glad I started work at the Job Corps before school started. The first night I checked in at the main office, I got to meet most of the other counselors. They were all bright and eager. Most of them were like me – both going to school and working full time. Three were married. Then Ray, one of the counselors I had already met, led me to the barracks or dorm I would be responsible for. I met some of the 50 or so trainees living in my dorm.  I was surprised that many of the trainees were about the same age as the councilors. They had just not had the opportunities we counselors had had. Most had been juvenile delinquents. They were all from the east coast. The idea was to bring them to the west coast for a fresh start away from negative influences. They seemed like good kids serious about their future. They studied until 10 pm; then it was lights out. The dorm was quiet by 11 pm – perfect for studying.

Sometimes in life we get lucky. I had lucked into a job that enabled my plans for higher education and a higher quality life. Now the ball, as they say, was in my court.

We are lucky. We have the opportunity to have a truly high-quality life for ourselves and our family. By nourishing ourselves and our brains with first class nutrition like whey protein isolate (JDD Shakes) we can have high-quality consciousness for decades. Sometimes we get lucky.

Again, thank you for your support. I wish you and your family the very best of health.
Joe

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