Nine years ago, I met a young man named Javon. He seemed like a pretty cool young man that immediately gravitated to me when I first started. I had people come up to me and tell me to watch him because he had a quick temper. As time went on, I began working with Javon on his temper, cursing, and his grades. I went out on a ledge and made him captain of our flag football and basketball team. I had people doubt my decision of putting him as captain, but I used that to encourage him to lead by example. Javon was able to change his behavior, work with our kids, and bring his grades up. Javon graduated from DeLand High, and he is now an officer for the DeLand Police Department. —Joy