Life is a Game Forward by Dr. Jerry D. Smith, Jr.

[Jim Copeland]

Several years ago, during my tenure as a case worker in a military-style boot camp for juvenile offenders, I was approached by a 16-year-old cadet. “Mr. Smith, is there someway I can stay here?” After being in the program 56 days, this young man was four days away from being released and returning to his family and friends. Yet he wanted to remain in what I personally considered a pretty demanding, if not harsh, environment. This was an environment where cadets were required to wake well before the sun rose for morning physical training, eat each of their daily three square meals in five minutes flat, and exist under the ever-present and watchful eyes of a leather-faced, order-barking drill-sergeant peering out from under an Ol’ Sarge hat. “Why do you want to stay here?” I asked. “When I go back out to the streets, I don’t know what will happen. At least here, I know there are people who care about me,” he replied as tears welled in his eyes. In all honesty, I had to quickly turn my face, as well. I often wonder what happened to that young cadet. Did he follow the path of so many who came before him, the path of crime and adult incarceration? Did he end up dead? Or, did he find a way to survive the streets? Was he able to break from the destructive forces of his run-down community and learn the ways of personal success? And I ask myself, did I help him develop the skills necessary to play this game of life and come out a winner? Did I teach him how to adequately set goals and establish plans for achieving them? Did I show him the importance of character, and perseverance, and good judgment? Did I show him how to leave the false security of “the known” for the rewards of stepping out into “the unknown?” These things I suppose I may never know. Still, I can hope.

“Life is a Game” takes a simple and direct approach in helping the reader to see the role of character, perseverance, good decision making, and the ability to step out of one’s comfort zone in creating a pattern of personal and public successes. “Life is a Game” is a book of hope and inspiration. It is a book I would have given that young man so many years ago. Maybe, just maybe, one day this book will enter his life bringing a renewed sense of passion and purpose, as I’m sure it will do for many others. At least I can hope.

Forward by Dr. Jerry D. Smith Jr.