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SPIDER JONES: Heavyweight Champion of Inspiration
By Mike Parker – www.employmentnews.com
Young Charles ‘Spider’ Jones was a boy with a dream. He wanted
to be like his idol, Alan Freed, the disc jockey credited with
coining the phrase ‘Rock & Roll’. Spider was out-going,
friendly, and optimistic, possessing the desire to achieve his
goal. Then he was hit by racism.
In school, racist attacks became an everyday occurrence.
Spider’s confidence evaporated and his self-esteem plummeted.
Spider gave up and dropped out of school. For years, Spider
lived on the streets of Detroit running with a gang. He
scrapped, stole, and was on a dead-end course that landed him in
jail.
As he got older, Spider channelled his street smarts into
boxing, ultimately winning three Golden Glove Championships.
After boxing, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs, but
learned quickly that he was once again stuck in a dead-end
situation.
“When you haven’t got an education, employers will exploit you,”
says Spider. “I decided that if I ever wanted to achieve my
dream and provide a better life for my family, I had to get the
education and skills.”
His boyhood dream was once again alive. At age 30, living in
Toronto with his wife and four kids, Spider quit working and
went back to school. Attending Seneca College, Spider
encountered a whole new set of challenges. “It was frightening.
Here I was, 30 years of age with a ton of street and ring
smarts, and I was in classrooms with 19 year olds.”
The low self-esteem that had plagued Spider all his life
returned, and he began to have doubts in his ability to finish
school. “If it wasn’t for the support of professors and
counsellors, I would not have made it to the end.” Spider
credits Alvin Curling, (current Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly of Ontario) then the head of Student Services, for
“believing in me and giving me reason to carry on.” Spider went
on to earn two degrees in broadcasting.
Spider Jones’ book, “Out of the Darkness: The Spider Jones
Story”, chronicles his unrelenting rise from street punk to
radio personality. Currently the host of his own show on CFRB,
Spider dedicates much of his spare time to speaking across North
America to kids, recounting his own journey from gang life to
broadcaster.
Kids react well to Spider’s message - that no dream is
unattainable. “The kids are fascinated by my story and are
motivated.” In 2003, Spider was named Ontario’s first ambassador
for skilled trades. It was just one more way Spider could
encourage kids. “They hear me and know that they can be
something without being a rocket scientist.” Dubbed the
“Heavyweight champion of Inspiration”, Spider takes pride in
“motivating young people to be positive”.
Going back to school as an adult is never easy. Spider has some
advice to people considering it. “Don’t just think about it, do
it. And don’t quit. Just take a deep breath. Don’t wait for
opportunities – make them”
Spider’s next book, “How to K.O. low self-esteem & bring your
dreams into reality in 10 rounds”, will give people a 10 step
program to overcome adversity. “When you overcome any challenge,
you will feel great!”
About the author:
Mike Parker is the Content Manager for www.employmentnews.com
and for various publications - Employment News, TheJOBguide,
CAREERS Plus and Training Places - printed by Trader Media
Corporation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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