I met M at school. He looked to be in his 50's. He looked like the kind of person who's story you just needed to know. He also looked rugged- wearing the same clothes day after day and as some might say he looked a little scary.

However M and I quickly became aquatinces and later friends. We would sit outside in the quad often chatting about life, politics, our beliefs, anything really. I learned that M was basically homeless and had been for years. At the time he had enough money to rent a hotel that he had been staying in. I asked him how at 58 he had dedcided to enroll in college for the first time and how he could afford it.  He said another homeless friend had told him that you could recieve a free RTD pass if you enrolled at Auraria Campus. It sounded good to him! So he figured out how to get student grants and enrolled in college taking 6 credit hours. One math class and one english course. He is probably the most dedicated student I have met on that campus- litterally spending eight to ten hours outside of class a day seven days a week studying.

He once shared with me parts of his life story including becoming "born again through Christ" and then getting kicked out of the pastors house he was staying at after getting involved with the pastors wife, being a troubled teenager, jail and becoming homeless- drifting in and out of jobs. M is a kind soul, he loves talking to people and is always willing to share the food he picks up at the food bank on campus. More than once has he offored me a sandwhich despite the fact that he has no home, no income and very little posessions. We share lunch in the quad and on cold days i'll buy him a hot chocolate.

For M I believe school was a fresh start. I have met several of his homeless friends who he keeps encouraging to enroll in school. I'll hear them say between whisky breaths, "nah man I couldn't do that" and he just keeps telling them that they can and they should.
It seems they all like to drink a lot but M never comes to school drunk, he only drinks at night when hes winding down.

M doesnt know what major he will choose but enjoys English and would like to be a teach but says it's almost impossible due to prior felonies. M has lived so many lives but it seems like he's only just beginning at the age of 58. I have high hopes for M.--