Archive: Around Town

On Wednesday, October 5, 2011, author and motivational speaker Randy Kearse visited the Finger Lakes Residential Center in Lansing, New York. Kearse is the author of five books, his most famous being Changing Your Game Plan, which tells his story, the salvation of a man once deemed a menace to society by a judge who sentenced him to 15 years. Randy Kearse served 13 years, 6 months and 2 days in federal prison. He returned to life as a free man with a new perspective, a fresh focus, and a strong determination to succeed.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. Kearse grew up in the Farragut housing projects. In his books and in his presentations, he provides people with a formula to turn a negative situation into a positive opportunity.

Kearse recounted his years in federal prison as precious time that is forever lost. He told the residents that when he was first locked up his son was only two years old. At the time of his release, his son was graduating from high school.

"I watched my son grow up in photographs," he lamented.

He further marked those lost years by describing his mother’s hair, which, during the years of his incarceration, went from jet black to silver to totally grey.

Kearse presented to groups of ten residents at a time in the facility’s library during six separate class periods. As the residents entered the room, they gravitated toward the rear. Kearse asked students to move up close to the front, sit together around the table nearest him, and listen to his words, which he hoped would "marinate" over time.

Insisting that the students use the power they have inside to change their lives, Kearse pointed out that not all people from the neighborhoods where the residents grew up dropped out of school, sold drugs, and did other crimes.

"You’re not a victim of your circumstances," he said. "You’re each a victim of your choices."

He urged them to make the right choices, reminding them that we only live once.

"This is not a game," he insisted.  "We have to make our lives have real value and meaning."

Kearse asked each of the students in the room to tell him his game plan, his goal for his future.  Many planned to finish school, get a job, go into the military, study a trade. One young man wanted to become an underwater welder.  When a resident told Kearse he wanted to be a rapper, Randy responded, "Okay, but what is your plan B. Always got to have a plan B, and even C, if you can."

Kearse told the young men not to listen to the people around them who don’t support their future goals. He recounted his time in prison when the other inmates dismissed him, taunted him for writing books. They told him no one was going to read his books and he should just go back to selling drugs. But Kearse didn’t listen to them. He persevered and became a celebrated author. He started up his own publishing company called Positive Urban Literature Inc. Kearse has been featured in The New York Times and The New York Daily News.

"You’ve got to remain strong and always believe in yourself," he said.

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