"...in order to achieve in life, you have to set goals for yourself, short term and long term."

De'Andre - Speech Given at 2010 OFS Recognition Ceremony, 08/03/10
Hi everybody, my name is De'Andre Alexander. I've been working for Operation Fresh Start for over a year now. 6 months before I became a participant, I was released from the Dane Co. Jail for an armed robbery that I committed in 2007. I was sentenced to 1 year in jail and 5 years on probation. When I was released, I thought that I was going to get a job with no problem. I put in applications for factories, clothing stores, even fast food restaurants, but 3 months down the line I was able to find nothing. Then I got a very big glimpse of what being a felon was like.

I wanted to start a new life. I needed to set goals for myself so that I can learn how to succeed in life. That was one thing that was most important to me, to my future. I wanted to work hard and earn every penny. I wanted to meet new people so that I could have friends that I could go to when I needed help. I wanted a mentor that could teach me right from wrong and guide me with wisdom. And I found these things when I started working for Operation Fresh Start.

I met people like Karen, Paula, and Emily who all helped a group of participants as well as myself enroll in school at MATC. I was able to earn 6 college credits that semester. And my construction supervisors Steve Gardner and Tony Strenz , have both given me a lot of decision making advice outside of work and taught me what hard work means.

One thing that has got me to where I am today is that in order to achieve in life, you have to set goals for yourself, short term and long term. That list of goals will give you a visual of what has been accomplished. Every time you complete a goal, it's a step closer to being a successful person in life. I've been checking off goals ever since I was released from jail, and 5 to 10 years from now I believe I WILL KNOW that my life will be exactly where I want it to be.

Thanks everybody for coming to this awards ceremony and giving me your time and ears to listen to my speech. It really means a lot to me.