num_pages: 228
description: Michael Miller was born into poverty, and stayed there--undernourished, uneducated, and nearly hopeless for the first twenty-five years of his life. Raised in the unforgiving streets of Baltimore, he became a father at 14, was a 'troubled youth' and dropped out of high school at 16, ill equipped to effectively participate in his own life. Not until faced with death was Miller able to alter his existence and overcome his obstacles through the power of education.In a matter of three years, he obtained his GED, A.A. degree, and a B.A. degree from Morehouse College and set a national record as the first person ever to do so. Through the benevolence of Oprah Winfrey, he was recognized for his efforts as a single parent, full-time student, and as a dedicated father with up to $100, 000 in funding to continue his education as a "Beating the Odds Scholar." He later received a Master's degree and is currently a successful Ph.D. candidate.Having reclaimed the lives of his children and assumed the honorable role of single parent, Miller now reflects on his past life with pride. He understands that his repeated failures and perpetual struggles slowed his race to the finish line, but that did not prevent him from getting there. In this moving autobiography of a once hopeless, poor boy, one feels the warmth of hope and perseverance; one is taught that finishing the race is all that matters--even if it takes twenty-five years.
language: English
title: A Promise to Persevere: It's not where you start, it's where you finish!
titlecomplete: A Promise to Persevere: It's not where you start, it's where you finish!
ratings_count: 8
publisher: Empowerment Press Publishing Company