The WIOA-SELECT program at Sunflower Humphreys County Progress, Inc., recently began its fall session with a new group of students on Sept. 15.
As is customary; the students had an opportunity to experience the inimitable style of Healthy Relationships Instructor, Joe McCall.
McCall, who is employed by Our House, Inc., Greenville, with his unique form of delivery, addressed key social and ethical problems that plague today’s youth and young adults. McCall was in Indianola at the request of teacher Saranda Washington.
He began by immediately asking the students for their permission to “Be real” with them. During his entertaining, but informative and soul-searching session, McCall provided the young men and women with much to consider.
He shared situations from his own chaotic upbringing including growing up without his father being there. He talked about the hatred that built up inside of him because of that and because of how his father treated him when he was around. McCall said he was so engulfed with hatred that his mindset was to kill his dad if he ever saw him again but that was before, with the help of God, he was able to finally forgive him.
McCall then challenged them to forgive any person that may have hurt them and press forward, because holding on to unforgiveness could cripple their success.
He told the pupils about his mother, about her numerous ill-fated relationships and having to struggle to survive and extolled on how God changed his life and gave him a new way of thinking. He proclaimed how his relationship with God is the reason why he is on track and has a successful career and the capability to instill in his own children the desire to excel and accomplish. He told them that with the right attitude they too could be successful.
McCall appealed to the men to be “The man” not just a man, and the women to know their value and their significance and have self-respect and not allow anyone to depreciate their worth. He spoke about how he treats his own wife like a queen and that she deserves and expects to be treated that way. He also addressed the importance of monogamy.
McCall entreated the students to use the tools they have at hand to garner their success. He asserted that most of them likely have smart phones, but use them for “mess” social media and such, when it is actually a computer at their fingertips. “What if you use your phone for business purposes, what if you use it for that?” he asked.
He implored them to pay attention to their instructors, “Listen to what they are trying to teach you, I believe in you,” he said, “And I believe the only reason you are not dead is because God’s purpose for you hasn’t been fulfilled,” McCall insisted.
As a way of getting them to consider their own character, he presented several questions to the 22 students, one of which was, would they allow their son or daughter to date a person like them.
To further reinforce his admonishments on making good choices and discerning a person’s character first, the culmination of his presentation was a pictorial revisit into the lives of several local young women who met with a violent and tragic demise as a result of domestic violence.
Former CEO Louise Lloyd was also in attendance at the session to offer up words of encouragement to the group.
