The GED Test Saved my Life!

As we work diligently here at Just Jay Media headquarters, I wanted to present an endorsement and little-known fact about my educational upbringing.

Just because I was a very successful college student, people always assume I graduated from one of those North shore, "public but only if you live in the district" type high schools. That assumption, ladies and gentlemen, is incorrect. While I did attend Maine South high school in Park Ridge (unfortunately), I was asked to withdrawal (drop out) long before I could graduate. Why? Well, that's a whole other story for a different blog, but I'll offer up the short version.

The two worst years of my life were ages 13 and 14, when I attended Lincoln Junior High school in Park Ridge. I know I've mentioned it in past blogs how I hated school so much, I tried to die rather than attend--literally. If junior high is supposed to be training for those rigorous and competitive high school years, I was Gomer Pyle in a Vietnamese boot camp. So, I left Lincoln with a chip on my shoulder. I was terrified of high school as it had more students, rules and teachers.

But something actually went right for me. Right before the summer of 8th grade, my hideous appearance improved. I mean, I was "that kid" who was so ugly the other kids didn't even want to look at me. I had a severe case of acne that was immune to any of the many treatment attempts my dermatologist tried. It seemed hopeless. Anyway, out of no where, my acne cleared up, my weight evened out and I grew some muscle mass. I was still light years away from being Justin Bieber, but I was no longer ugly.

I entered Maine South with a more positive attitude. I was lucky too that I had a few connections from junior high that got me in with the popular seniors--the seniors who ran the school. Even though I was only a freshman I had a gift, a skill, a forte: I could sell weed. On that alone, I got in with the seniors. Moreover, their top senior and leader liked me and let me hang out and ride in his sleek, new car. It all seemed too good to be true.

My grades at Maine South were atrocious. I loved playing baseball so I did what I had to do to stay eligible to play. The upper-class kids I had affiliated with had moved on: got kicked out; dropped out; went to jail; died; etc. So I found myself in a precarious situation where I had to do things by myself. The last thing in Hell I wanted was a repeat of junior high, so I took the initiative to actually recruit an army of friends. And it didn't matter if they went to Maine South, East or West. I needed a crew--a loyal crew.

It took a few months for me to put my plan in action but it all started to come together. I sought out the kids with gifts: some who could fight; some who could motivate; some who could sell drugs and make money. Age, sex and location were less important than loyalty, intelligence and obedience. After a few more months, this "crew" we formed was transformed into the Latin Kings--a notorious Chicago street gang--after we couldn't get organized in the suburbs. A PR Stone (a brother gang of the Latin Kings) took us under his wing and schooled us in the art of gangbanging. So even though we were white boys from the suburbs, we took our violations (entrance requirements) and were officially made Latin Kings. Our home set was Levitt and Cortland- near Armitage and Western in the Bucktown neighborhood.

Affiliated gang members was all Maine South needed to keep suspending us until we either dropped out or got kicked out. Knowing I was fighting a losing battle, I dropped out. At this time I was 16, so I needed my Father's permission. To my dismay, he agreed. The way I see it, he must have seen all the violent street gang stuff first-hand and just wanted me to get away.

I took the form to my dean at Maine South with all the required signatures, making it official: I was now a bona fide, high school drop-out with no job and an armada of cops who loathed me. Great.

If you would of told me that I'd miss learning (not school!), I'd say you were insane. But I missed learning. There was absolutely nothing about Maine South that I missed at all... no way! But I wanted to be in some type of educational setting, learning something, if only to keep my mind occupied. I began researching exactly what I'd have to do to get back on track and possibly go to trade school or night school. At this point in my life, I thought I was dumb and slow and remedial, so college was out of the question.

I learned that I had to take the U.S.-mandated GED (General Equivalency Degree) to earn my high school diploma. This scared me. After all, how was I supposed to pass a test on classes I had never taken? I didn't matter though. I was determined. There was no way I was going to end up having a career as a night cashier at a gas station (although it is an interesting part-time job) and living the "G" life, selling drugs and mooching off my parents.

I scrounged up $25 for the GED practice book and studied like I'd never studied before. I brought this book everywhere, as I knew if I passed this test I could have some of the same opportunities as the "real" high school graduates. After a few more months, the day arrived. I had to report to a high school on a Saturday for an 8 hour GED test, and I wasn't too confident.

The test took me the full eight hours and seemed a lot easier than I envisioned it would be. After I finished and left the test site, I had no idea whether or not I passed.

A few months passed and I got a letter from the GED testing service. I got nervous because it was too small to hold a diploma. I was sure I failed. I slowly opened the letter: "Congratulations...you passed." Yes! I passed the GED on the first try and also scored so high, my scores made me eligible for college honors classes.

Many years later, I hold a Bachelor's degree and many other certifications, wherein I had to take intensive classes on difficult subjects. I am about to begin taking classes at the Community college again because I still LOVE learning!

-Just Jay-

Bad Boy Bill on July 4th: Fire works

When I saw on Facebook that my favorite DJ in the world (Bad Boy Bill) would be playing a local club on the 4th of July, I thought it was too good to be true. It didn't matter. I pulled out my credit card and bought a presale ticket just in the rare case the show would sell out.

It was my first time being at this venue, V-Live. I have to say, I was impressed. The venue had 3 levels with one main room set up for the bigger DJ headliners. When I first arrived at around 9:00, there were very few people there--maybe 20 at the most. That worried me. Would I be forced to see my DJ idol with 50 other people in a near-empty show room? It sometimes happens where even a great lineup will not draw due to a number of factors; some outside the control of the promoters.

I was put to ease when I saw a steady flow of people filing into the venue. Now, because Bill is an old-school DJ, the average age had to be around 30 years old. I was baffled as to why the even let the 18-20 crowd in (kids that age couldn't possibly understand why Bad boy Bill is and always will be a Chicago legend). Either way, I love to see the younger crowd paying to see quality music talent rather than some rich kid showing off his new I-Book and down loadable DJ program.

I wish I had more good things to say about the venue. It wasn't dirty or in any way a fire hazard; but it just had too many promoters and security and not nearly enough bartenders and hot dancers. Drinks were way over-priced but the staff was rude and at times disrespectful to us patrons.

I can only speak for myself when I say: It made this year's 4th of July awesome--one for the record books. It also gave me new stories to tell the new-schoolers about DJs Bad Boy Bill and Mark Farina.

Overall grade: B- by Just Jay and staff

Church and My Idol: IndepenDANCE

Even though I rarely post on Sundays, I just felt the need to share about a potentially awesome day I should have today. My mother suggested we go to Church for the first time in more than a few years for me. It was like she read my mind because I had been wanting to attend services for a while (and will not offer up excuses as to why I haven't made the effort to get off my lazy ass and just go).

You'd think I'd be nervous about seeing people in my congregation who I haven't seen in over ten years, but I'm not. Actually, I'm looking forward to it. The Church infrastructure gives me that warm feeling; a feeling like I'm invincible. And the art, the stained-glass windows are remarkable. It's so perfect the way the sun shines through the windows at that exact time where one can see all the spectacular repertoire of colors.

After church I plan on getting some work done here, at my home-office. Then, tonight, I get a true July 4th grand finale: DJ Bad Boy Bill (one of my idols and my favorite DJ) spinning at a club in the city. Though I've drastically cut back on EDM (Electronic Dance Music [genre]) events lately, I cannot, will not miss an opportunity to see Bad Boy Bill rock the house live on Independence day! It brings me back to 1993!

I learned something new today as I do each and every day: if one leaves things to God/fate instead of planning every little detail, it all comes together; much like listening to Mozart, watching fireworks explode in the night sky beneath the heavenly stars.

-Just Jay-