Izeal Wilson A Better Spot
I t’s often trying for children to appreciate
the wisdom of their parents. For Izeal Wilson, the regret of not trusting his parent’s wisdom when he was young still gnaws at him. Now older and having his own children, Izeal is working hard to overcome the mistakes he says he made early in life.
Izeal’s parents didn’t intend for him to have such a unique name. They had chosen Isaiah, a Biblical name. However, somewhere between his parent’s intentions and a midwife who was responsible for recording his information, the name Isaiah became Izeal. Izeal was born in Stamford, Connecticut, a coastal community on Long Island Sound. His dad was an electrician by trade and worked hard to provide for his family. But his parents could never afford to buy a house of their own, so Izeal grew up in low-income housing which provided a shelter but not a home.
“We managed,” Izeal said. “I did all the things other kids did. Although I didn’t try out for school sports, I loved to play basketball in the neighborhood.”
Like many young people, Izeal didn’t always listen to the advice of the adults in his life. “I didn’t really listen to my elders as I should have. Now that I’m older I realize, if I had, maybe I would be in a better spot,” he said.
Izeal had his first child when he was in high school so he had to start working at an early age. He dropped out of school and began doing
cabinetry, woodwork, and various other jobs. Realizing the importance of an education, he eventually went back to school to earn his GED but still struggled to find permanent work.
Eager to find better employment, Izeal contacted Express. “I asked for the address and I shot on down there,” he said.
The first two jobs Express found for Izeal were temporary jobs. The third position ended up being permanent. Because of Izeal’s outstanding work ethic, he recently received Employee of the Year honors. “The award was an extra motivator. I was nominated and I won. It made me feel really good,” Izeal said.
Now, Izeal is focused on the future. His short- term goal is to go back to school and get his commercial driver’s license. He hopes to be able to drive a truck and provide more for his family. His family is what keeps him motivated. He also knows the importance of being a good father and credits own dad for shaping his character. “I have four children and I want to work hard and set an example for them,” he said.
Izeal’s father passed away recently and the sting from the loss is still fresh. Someday Izeal might be able to let go of the regret of his childhood. For now, it still lingers. But his hard work and determination are sure to put him “in a better spot.”
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