Steve Ward: How Purpose Driven Education Can Change The World

Growing up in a place like Compton, California, Steve Ward never felt like he was truly a part of the educational system. As a child, he was constantly being told by teachers and counselors that he was a low achiever, and he was frequently encouraged to be held back a grade or two. He was never taught the basics of how to harness and channel his energy, and he was rarely given the opportunity to understand the difference between urban and suburban education.

A Turning Point

As a result, Steve felt like he was at the very lowest of the low when it came to education, and he started to believe that if you can’t succeed in the classroom, you won’t be successful in life. His parents, however, tried to reassure him that there was nothing wrong with him, but this was a difficult message to take in when he found himself in situations where he was one of only a few black students in the entire school.

At 13 years old, Steve worked hard to prepare for an algebra test. He put in extra effort to try and pass the test, and he was confident that he had done well. But when the results finally came out, he was disappointed to find out that he had failed. This experience was a turning point for him, and it made him realize that he had to take matters into his own hands if he was going to succeed.