Monday, February 18, 2019
We were called out to the PEP room at 7 a.m. As we got settled, we prayed-in for the day. The word of the day was read, and the emcee got up and let us know it was time to practice the graduation walk. A few hours later, everyone was tired! Some of us worked on finishing our coats of arms and t-shirts for our families. We then began to watch American history. I never knew that Texas had that amount of oil under it. It has more oil than California has gold. I knew it was called black gold, but now I know why. We learned about the two brothers that revolutionized oil drilling during that time, how California grew and Hollywood got started. Also, we learned how the Hoover Dam got built and how the state almost dried up from lack of water. All of that happened in the 1900s. We learned about World War I and World War II. This was around the time the radar was invented. We learned how the Japanese were able to fly their planes without being detected by radar – and that is how the Japanese got to Pearl Harbor. We learned a lot today! After that, we prayed out and went back to our dorms.
Marlon C. (a.k.a. “George Clinton”)
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
As we sat in the dayroom at 7 a.m. waiting for Servant-Leaders and Phase One to go to class, the Phase One class called “Legendary ’19” was anxious about their upcoming test as Phase Two sat back and watched their confidence rise on their way to take the test. It reminded me of when we were in those same shoes at the beginning of this program. Thank God, because most of them passed their test.
After lunch, Phase Two’s computer lab group and Servant-Leaders returned to the PEP room. As we got to the computer lab, we sat down and logged in to our assigned computers. As soon as we logged in, one of the Peer Educators told us to log out because of some issues with the computers. Since we couldn’t login, some of us returned to the PEP room to join our PEP brothers. Once we entered the room, Gami J. was speaking some words of encouragement to the class. Once Gami J. finished his speech, everyone cheered and clapped. Afterwards, we broke for count time.
Once we reported our count, we watched a video, and as we did I realized that it had information similar to information we went over in one of the chapters of our entrepreneurship book. This next class should be able to get a better understanding of the entrepreneur process now. After the video was over, we hung up our badges and exited the room to return to the dorms, where test scores were posted on the bulletin board … and sure enough, everyone pretty much passed. It was another good day. Now let’s stay ready to keep from getting ready!
Raul C. (a.k.a. “Cowardly Lion”)
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Our day started off at 7 a.m. as we made our way to the PEP classroom. Today was graduation practice day, and we practiced our graduation walk and then worked on our pitches for the Business Plan Competition. We are only 15 days away from Redeemed ’19’s big day: graduation! For the last 8½ months, we have been working very hard to become future entrepreneurs and learning leadership skills.
After that, our day shifted gears, so after lunch some of us went back to the PEP room to help prepare the Phase One class as they got ready to take their final tests. They took Tests 3 and 4 of their final five tests to complete Phase One. We are very proud of the great job they have done so far on their tests. After the testing was over with, it was time for the Phase Ones to head back to the dorms to start studying for their last test, while Redeemed ’19 and the other Servant-Leaders went to our Servant-Leader meeting. It started out with the introduction of new Servant-Leaders, then the celebration of four of our PEP brothers’ birthdays. Then we got down to business: a PowerPoint presentation on “Training on Action.” After the Servant-Leader meeting we all mingled for a while before praying out and returning to our dorms to help our Phase One brothers study for their final test.
After that, it was time to get some much-needed rest and relaxation, which is something we have not had the chance to do over the past 5+ months. We are PEP!
Jonathan D. (a.k.a. “Mr. Pringles”)
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Today those of us in Phase Two were assigned new positions to give back to the program. Phase One took their rules test, and we helped with test grading and giving them words of encouragement. It means a lot to be able to give back to this program – this is what it’s all about. I want to be able to be there for the next man and be a Servant-Leader. We want to give what PEP has taught us and give it to the next class.
We came back to the dorm and started practicing our pitches for our Business Plan Competition on March 8th. After lunch, we were called back to the PEP room and started working on our graduation walk, which we had to do four times. After that, we started watching the American History videos we are trying to finish. We watched one about how cars came about in the United States. After we finished we prayed out, left class, and came back to the dorm.
We are now helping the old Phase One/new Phase Two participants with Chapter One of their entrepreneurship books. We are still saying our pitches to the other guys so we will are able to have them down for our Business Plan Competition. Redeemed ’19 is working very hard every day, and we are giving back to the other classes because that is what PEP is all about – we want to leave the best legacy. This is what Redeemed ’19 class works for every day.
Kevin C. (a.k.a. “Red Raider Cheerleader”)
Expressions
“Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
~ Nicola Machiavelli
What this quote means to me is that anyone has a voice to say that they will be successful (or are successful), but if you still do all of the same things that didn’t work out before and surround yourself with all of the same people who fail, then prosperity is not in your future. Most people do get rid of the people from their past, and even wash away their old ways. Afterwards they tend to find themselves feeling content. That’s the biggest failure of them all: contentment. If people stop striving for success, they will only be prepare to fail. You must change with the times and continue to progress in knowledge, life and spirituality. But if your actual conduct doesn’t change, then more than likely those plans and dreams will never manifest into their physical existence. And if you have them, then you will surely lose them. So on the outside looking in, people may view being rich as an easy task and overlook the work ethic and dedication that a person must have in order to be truly successful.
This is not a quote that should be taken into deep consideration. Anyone that grasps the actual definition and meaning of this quote and abides by it will be prosperous and successful in life, wealth, spirituality and mind.
Kendrick C. (a.k.a. “Darius Rucker”)