This is me . . .

Ron Eddings' life is a story of tremendous struggle, tragedy, perserverance, self-discovery and triumph. His life spans one of the most tumultuous, contentious periods in American history and sheds insight on a number of larger social, cultural, and racial issues. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Ron developed into a star athlete in the shadows of poverty, discrimination and domestic abuse. He was awarded a baseball scholarship to Howard University, but subsequently lost it due to a knee injury. After returning to Asheville, his life took a number of twists and turns that eventually led to his involvement in drug and gang activity. After spending eight and a half years in and out of some of the roughest prisons in North Carolina, Ron decided that he had to change his life, and recover the warm, intelligent, courageous person he had left behind along the way. After being released from prison, Ron began telling his story in a number of venues including churches, schools, prisons, and social events. Currently, Ron is the Student Government Association President at Catawba Valley Community College, has garnered a number of academic and service awards, and works with a single-minded and determined passion to reach out to others, to educate them about the dangers of drugs and the horrors of prison life, to encourage them to enthusiastically embrace life's challenges, and to help those who have fallen into despair. Ron derives great pleasure from connecting with his audiences, and uses both incisive straight talk and infectious humor to deliver his message of hope and unity.

More later . . .