Omar overcomes challenges to celebrate the possible

Omar is graduating high school. It is something he never thought would be possible.

Before coming to live at Odum Home in Pembroke, life was chaotic. His mom's life choices made day-to-day living difficult. Omar and his two younger siblings were moved from place to place and from school to school. The children slept on sofas and on make-shift beds on the floor. Nights were noisy and long and Omar would sleep into the day. Going to school was not a priority. Planning for a future was something other teens did, not Omar.

When Omar first walked into Latta Cottage four years ago, he weighed 340 pounds and was pre-diabetic. He never had an option to eat healthy food. There were no nights sitting around a dining table and eating a good meal. Fast food, highly processed food, and food picked up on the go and eaten at all times, added on the pounds. Omar was trapped in his own body.

When houseparent Pam Hailey first met Omar, she was a "bit" intimidated. He towered over her. But instead of a growl, she was greeted with a wide grin. The two gravitated to each other.

Life at Odum Home would be a challenge at first. He had to go to bed at a certain time to be up and ready for school. Meals were at set times and there was no more "junk" food. And there were no more hours spent watching television. Omar began to exercise.

"Everything was clean," Omar recounts. "We had beds with pillows and sheets. There were clean bathrooms and daily chores. You couldn't just sit around. Everyone worked together to make the cottage nice."

Omar's high school freshman year was difficult. Regularly attending school and doing homework was alien. Attending Saturday school and summer school that year helped put him on the right track. Turning a "D" average to an "A"-"B" average took a lot of work. The help of volunteer tutor Robert Bass and Hailey was invaluable.

"Just getting into tenth grade was an accomplishment," Omar asserts. "Everything improved. Before my dad died, he told me that he wanted me to graduate. My parents never graduated high school and he wanted me to do better than he was able to do. He motivated me. I was ready to push on."

Omar was surprised that he would like school. His world opened up. He began working a part time job, earned a driver's license, and opened a bank account.

"Omar feels good about himself," Hailey says. "He works hard and is looking forward to getting a good job after graduation."

Omar has set his sights on a job, working at a large food manufacturer in Robeson County near Odum Home. He wants to become a licensed electrician or plumber.

"My goal is to be financially stable," he says. "It's amazing to even think about. I don't know where I would be if it were not for the love and care I've gotten at Odum Home. I don't even like thinking about it."

Now seventy pounds lighter and stepping into a brighter future, Omar has become a better version of himself. His tall frame and size, once intimidating, is endearing. He is polite and his warm smiles are welcoming.

"I'm big but I don't want to scare anyone," 19-year-old Omar says. "I'm a gentle giant and have a kind heart. I want people to see a good person who is making good decisions."

Hailey is proud of Omar. He has learned to focus on what he wants, to set goals, and work to reach them. "Omar is determined to not let his past distract him from his future."

Omar is determined to be a role model for his 15-year-old sister and 17-year-old brother. He has learned to stay away from wrong things and the wrong people. Since accepting Jesus into his life, Omar puts God first, determined to not fall to the wayside.

"I talk to God," he says. "The Lord put me here. Living here at Odum Home has made all the difference. I trust Him and thank Him every day."

Hailey and the other staff members at Odum Home are anchors, helping Omar and supporting him as he continues to grow as a young person. He is a part of them and will always be welcome.

Omar graduated high school on June 13 and celebrated the possible, excited by his future.

Written by Jim Edminson, Editor of Charity & Children