[music playing]

Joe Grinnell: I went to high school in San Fernando at Sylmar High, just a town right next to San Fernando, and I got kind of going the wrong direction and got using drugs and things like that and ended up getting in some trouble at the school there where I was expelled. And then I went to-- when I moved up north to Kings Beach, California, I started attending Truckee High School as well. But then just got in some trouble there as well and didn't continue to go on with my school at that time.

I've been in construction since that time in Kings Beach, and all of my family was either plasterers-- my dad was a plastering contractor, and both my brother in-laws were carpenters. So pretty much the handwriting was on the wall for me, especially when I dropped out of school. So I was in construction nearly all my life and still am.

But then again, there was the drug problem in my life. Just couldn't maintain any lasting sobriety. And so this was a part of my life that seemed to just kind of wrap itself around me and hold me back from the things that I really wanted to do in life.

So I came to Marysville in 1988 and began living right here. Actually, about five years ago, I began coming here to Marysville to the Adult School. And it was at that time I began getting acquainted again with just going ahead and wanting to get my GED and pass the courses here.

Tim Kelly: I think Joe was a typical student in the sense that he would start the program, and then he would leave. And then he would start the program, and he would leave because of these life circumstances. And having to-- he was a plasterer, and so he had to raise a family. I think that in most subjects, he did pretty well, except for mathematics, where he had to get some extra help. He was here at night getting that extra help.

Joe Grinnell: There was a lot of challenges returning to school. A lot of it was mental at this period of my life, thinking you're crazy going back to want to get your GED. I started coming back here when I'm 50 years old, and in between work as a union plasterer, there was times when I'd be off work. I'd be laid off. So I'd come over here, I'd register and get on the computer and start taking the courses again, and then I'd go back to work.

Tim Kelly: Joe is someone who persevered through this program. Some would say five years is too long. I would say that's what it took Joe for all the life circumstances that was in Joe's way, the fact of raising children much by himself. And I think Joe is one of those students that needed people to encourage him. That's the greatest motivator anyway, is encouragement.

Joe Grinnell: I'd go back, and I'd talk to Mary and Mary in the office or Tim, I'd see, Billy the teacher. And the encouragement level was so high here that it helped me to overcome any kind of self-doubt to go ahead, re-register again. They were so positive here that you need to continue and persevere in this that that's exactly what I did. I'm now the executive director of the Twin City Rescue Mission here in town, and I believe that had all to do with me pursuing the GED here.

Tim Kelly: I hope to continue to work with Joe in his new position that he has, see the kinds of things that we can do in collaboration with him. He's a terrific, terrific man and an inspiration to a lot of people here. So I want everyone to know he's got the biggest heart I think I've seen in quite some time.

Dana Vermillion: I couldn't believe what the man had been through and what changes he had made in his own life. It was astounding to me. I told him, now Joe, you're the most amazing individual because either one of two things is going on. You are really the real deal, buddy, or you're still a con man from the old days.

And he looked at me, and he said, well, you get to choose. Which do you think I am? And then I saw him at work, where he went-- when he's trying to affect the lives of others. And there wasn't any doubt that he was the real deal.

Joe Grinnell: I think some words were divinely given to me that maybe sum up what I have gained by being here, and that is, the only one who fails is the one who quits. And that is my philosophy now.