A Criminal Gone Good

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Ever heard that saying, “ A leopard cannot change its spots.” Rod Glodoski, former drugs addict and gang member would strongly disagree with that. When Ron Glodoski visited McCollough Unis School he was proof that with hard work and determination anyone could be successful.

Ron Glodoski grew up in a terrible home. Abused by his parents, who drank, Glodoski followed in their footsteps. “Bullying had a big impact on my life,” Glodoski told us.
Ron was diagnosed with ADD.  Ron was bullied.  He also had a  fishing pole accident that took out his eye and left him unconscious for 2 years.

At the age of 12, Glodoski couldn’t take it anymore so he took off. Where exactly, he didn’t know but he had to get away from the abuse and bullying. The taunting and the pain were too much to bear. The insults thrown at him both from teachers and students lazy, stupid, dumb, worthless. “I started to believe it.” Glodoski told the students, “That’s the second step of destruction.”
What are the steps of destruction? There are seven steps in total. First comes the name-calling, believing it comes shortly after, then people began acting the names people called them. The cycle continues, after that comes the point where you just don’t care. Drugs and alcohol are the next step, which usually results in being addicted. This mostly happens in high school, grades 10th- 12th. Last, comes death, or prison, or just hating life.
Glodoski joined his first gang at the age of 12, around the time he ran away from home. When asked what his three scariest experiences after running away from home, Glodoski said, “Shot at, drugs, and jail.”

At some point Glodoski just thought enough is enough, ad he turned his life around. Glodoski got help and stopped his addiction. What inspired him to do that? Well, he realized that everyone had his or her strengths and weaknesses.
If you’re a child dealing with abuse at home, Glodoskis advices you to talk to a social worker, a teacher, principal, counselor, anyone who can help. “Sometimes it’s hard and you were taught to keep it in the family” Glodoski said “But the outcome is you become addicted.”

What’s his advice to anyone dealing with bullying or to a middle school? “Believe in yourself, remember how brilliant you are, believe in your dreams and don’t give up. You can achieve anything.” And you can, Glodoski started off as a bullied and abused child with ADD, to a gang member and drug addict, ending up to become a non-bullying advocate, and a national public  speaker with a multimillion dollar business.
Ron Glodoski also wrote a book called, How To Become A Successful Criminal: The Real Deal on Crime, Drugs, and Easy Money. This book is about hopes and dreams; a book that surely will change kids life’s around. It tells us there is o such thing as a successful criminal like those you see on TV. Glodoski tells us about his life and his advice to those who thing drugs and gangs are easy cash.
This book is one of Glodoski’s biggest accomplishments, aside from finding out he’s smart.
Sometimes your dreams don’t come true so always have a backup plan. You want to become a famous football player do it, but go to college to in case you can’t.

It’s always better to have a backup plan.
So as the saying goes, maybe just maybe you can surely change your life around. Ron Glodoski, is a living example of it.

Ron Glodski’s Web Address: https://www.ronglodoski.com/about.html

Khansa Alhaidi

McUnis Journalist

9 Comments

  1. I really love how Ron changed his life before it even got worse than it already was. Bullying is wrong and this articles tells how it could effects someones life and how some words will hurt peoples feeling and they will start to believe it. Ron went through a lot and he just put it behind him and did whatever he had to do and i think that is what everyone should do the same.

  2. This article left me heartfelt and made me realize what effect bullying has on people. I never kept it in my mind how people have had it like this and this article has made me feel thankful for a loving family and a warm home. I never knew what effect bullying had on people and it made me rethink my decisions toward people.

  3. I liked the way the person being interviewed is not someone you could find working or learning at the school. This is a very we’ll written story about a person who went through tragic things and got his life together.

  4. I believe that your past shouldn’t change or effect your future. Like Ron Glodoski, just because you took the wrong path once, or even a couple times, there’s always a time to make it right. I’ll always remember that everyone makes mistakes, so I shouldn’t be regretful of anything because everything happens for a reason. And I think his message goes to kids that maybe aren’t even abused at home, or experienced drugs and alcohol, because we all make our decisions. Just try making the right ones.

    • I believe that your past shouldn’t change or effect your future. Like Ron Glodoski, just because you took the wrong path once, or even a couple times, there’s always a time to make it right. I’ll always remember that everyone makes mistakes, so I shouldn’t be regretful of anything because everything happens for a reason. And I think his message goes to kids that maybe aren’t even abused at home, or experienced drugs and alcohol, because we all make our decisions. Just try making the right ones.

  5. I really like this story and find it very inspiring that someone who has been through the same hardships as Glodoski was able to turn his life around for the better and make a better life for himself. You rarely ever hear about criminals changing themselves for the better, which is what made this story so interesting. I really enjoyed reading it, and think it has a great message.

  6. The title of thi story is very interesting and makes a reader pay attention to this story with full attention It tells that everyone makes mistakes, and that there’s always solutions This is very inspiring Even someone like Glodoski was able to turn his whole life around and stand up for the common good

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