My Quest For Happiness

There was once an army of leaf cutter ants transporting pieces of straw to their nest. One particular ant was particularly heavy laden, carrying the biggest and heaviest piece of straw on his back. He began to ask questions. “Why me?” he complained. “All my fellow ants have manageable loads, why do I have to bear this heavy burden?” No sooner had he said that, when they reached a large slab of cement. There was a long crack across the length of it and none of the ants could cross it. Except the one with the heavy burden. He realised that he could use his very long and heavy piece of straw as a bridge across the crack. He turned what appeared like a disadvantage into an advantage.
Earl reminds me of that ant. He turned his struggles and hardships to his advantage. He proved that a man achieves not in spite of his circumstances, but rather because of them.
I have known Earl practically all his life as he grew up in Round 1, Payneville as I did. I knew him when the only word he could utter was his name. I was his English teacher and I admired his positive personality and his willingness to work hard. I remember days like the one in which he helped me trying to locate and exterminate a rat which I had discovered in my brand new home. He spent many days at my house, so much so that friends who visited called him my butler, as he always used to answer the door. I remember when he returned from St Nicholas Home the second time (circa 1991) and asked me if he could be the Master of Ceremonies at a school concert I had organised. I remember how well he acquitted himself and how proud I was of him.
Earl’s story is an inspiration. I feel proud and honoured to have known him and to have played a small part in shaping his life.
Ziggy Adolph, 15 March 2009