Hattiesburg, Miss –

When inspirational speaker Richard L. Scott emcees or headlines any event these days, chances are you will have to whip out a magnifying glass to spot a bead of sweat. The Magnolia,  Miss., native believes his sweat glands and their barrels of reserves were tapped out in 1986, thanks to a life-changing incident that occurred during a session of his tenth-grade English class at South Pike High School.

In a strange twist of fate, a true-or-false exam exposed a secret that Richard thought he’d cleverly hidden.  “I was functionally illiterate, unable to read or write past an eighth-grade level,” Richard said.

Recalling the scene with water swelling in his eyes, Richard vividly recanted how neither his quick wit nor deep slouch could shield him from the ridicule of his fellow students once they learned he’d repeatedly misspelled the word “false” on his test.

Richard said the taunts from his peers bruised his ego indeed; however, the visible frustrations of his teacher 21 years ago left an indelible mark on his psyche.

“I can still hear the tone of the teacher’s voice when she alerted the class to my learning disability,” he said. “‘Today, we had a true-or-false test Richard. Not a true-or-flas test,’” his teacher had said aloud. 

To thwart future humiliations, Richard said he vowed to improve his reading and comprehension skills. “I basically had to learn how to learn.”

Richard was able to advance to the 11th grade, but he would continue to fall deeper into the pit of educational despair because he was embarrassed of being a functioning illiterate.  He also carried the shame of failing the sixth grade, not once, but twice.  Hopes for Richard’s future were slipping, and fast.  His rescue, though, didn’t come in the form of a sturdy rope. Instead, it came from a Commodore 64 computer purchased by his older brother. 

“When I first placed my hands on the keys of the computer, there was an instant connection,” Richard said.  “It felt as natural as breathing.”

All he needed now was a strong grip on the basic knowledge of operating computers.

“One day while being relegated to a study hall class, I requested to be relocated to a computer class,” Richard said.  “The school counselor said no, but my persistence prevailed when I sought special permission from my principal, Mr. Willie Earl Jones.  Reluctantly, Mr. Jones said, ‘Although it’s against my better judgment, I will allow it.’”

As his knowledge of computers grew, Richard’s fascination of them kept him up until the wee hours of the morning, formulating computer codes.  The teen who had for so many years feared all things academic now felt a direct link between himself and a world of opportunities, including possibilities of attending college.  Richard was also exposed to another emotion, which before this period of his life was completely foreign to him.
 
“The tides were beginning to turn,” Richard said.  “Suddenly, I was labeled the smartest kid in the class rather than slowest. For the first time ever academically, I felt really special as other students, including some seniors, struggled to grasp the concepts taught within the computer class while I excelled,” Richard said.  “The teacher struggled to create extra work for me, since I had completed the entire term’s work before we even reached the halfway point.”

Yes, the tide was turning, but Richard’s waves of high and lows were far from settling.

He still needed to find a way to enhance his reading and writing skills and to graduate high school before he could begin to court the idea of attending college.

“Until the eleventh grade, there were several things I did to camouflage my learning disability,” Richard said.  “I would go to the library and copy the words of numbers out of the dictionary and then memorize the spelling,” he said.  “I also masked my shortcomings in the reading arena through spoken English.  Almost subconsciously, I could mimic those around me, including my teachers and fellow students I considered to be smarter than me.”

According to Richard, his 11th-grade year deciphered many of the truths and the “falses” that plagued him throughout his childhood, including two very important revelations: “I discovered that I was far from stupid, and I just simply needed to learn how to properly process phonics.”

Richard would graduate high school with a 2.1 grade point average in 1989.  Instead of relishing in the fact that he’d defied the odds of earning a high school diploma, Richard strived for more.  Despite a low grade point average and a score of nine on his ACT exam, Richard focused on having both a successful career and a life better than his parents had.  His mother completed ninth grade before quitting school.  Richard’s father was only able to complete the sixth grade before he dropped out to help support his family.

“My parents were hard-working people, both averaging 16-hour days,” Richard said.  “My father worked in a factory by night and built houses by day.  My mother ran her own custodial service, worked as a nurse, plus served in my school’s cafeteria during the day.  And although we were never hungry, my parents believed education was the key to an easier life.”

Inspired by the plights of his parents and the achievements of his older siblings, Richard would go on to accomplish more than he could have ever imagined.  He was accepted into Hinds Community College in Utica, Miss., where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in computer science.  He then headed to The University of Southern Mississippi, located in Hattiesburg, Miss.  However, his faith in himself and in God would be tested as he sought his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.

“I had somehow managed to flunk out twice,” Richard said, fingering mental fatigue as the culprit. He was allowed one more chance to prove himself, but not before receiving a tongue lashing from a skeptical former Southern Miss financial aid director who was in no mood for excuses.  Richard said the exchange revitalized his ambitions.

“I remember the day I learned I had finally completed the required course work for my degree.  I was so overcome by pure emotion that I just stood in the middle of the campus weeping and thanking God for the accomplishment.  The graduation was icing on the cake as it gave my family and band of supporters the opportunity to be apart of such a triumphant moment in my life.”

Richard now works as a computer specialist for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) located in Jackson, Miss.  He has also created his very own computer consulting firm called Scott Solutions, LLC.

Computers are not Richard’s only passion.  On any given day, Richard can be found motivating thousands of people across the United States.  His message of perseverance and hope has garnered a plethora of distinguished awards and prominent media attention.  But Richard admitted that no award or exposure could top a recent opportunity to encourage the faculty and staff of his high school alma mater.

“It was truly a humbling experience to stand before my mentors and peers, and share my story of overcoming various learning disabilities,” Richard said.  “I have spoken at many events, but nothing has trumped the emotions of returning home to the very place that played a key role in helping me to ascend over my obstacles.”

“Richard’s love for new technology is ongoing,” said Umesh Sanjanwala, director of MDAC’s Information Management Division. “His curiosity is amazing.  He believes there is always an opportunity to learn more.  Most importantly, he is just a great person.”

To learn more about Richard, visit his Web site located at http://www.RichardLScott.com.  The site also includes a collection of stories, inspirational messages, poems and prayers dubbed “Inspirational Reading.”

This interview obtained by chinika.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Chinika, LLC.

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