front&center Robert Paul

THREE RIVERS AREA — Editor's note: The Three Rivers Edition is running a

high school senior as the Front and Center this week in

honor of all the students who are graduating this month.

His friends call him Bobby, but the world will soon know him as Robert.

Seventeen-year-old Robert Paul is no average honors graduate. The positive outlook and frequent smiles from the Batesville High School senior may cause one to believe Paul has led a charmed life. His reality is quite the opposite. He has worked hard and fought, what at times seemed like a losing battle, for his future.

He was almost 2 years old when his mom left him and his two younger sisters with his great-grandparents in Heber Springs. His young mom had a drug addiction and couldn’t care for her children.

“Or at least that’s what people tell me,” Paul said. “She lives in Tulsa, Okla., now, and I talk to her every day.”

On Dec. 5, 2005, Paul’s great-grandmother died of an accidental prescription-drug overdose, and he and his sisters were taken into foster care the next day.

“I had a troubled childhood,” Paul said. “There was

always alcohol and drugs all around me, and I had no

direction.” Paul said his mom would get them for a year or so at

a time; then the kids would go back into foster care.

“Mom moved from place to place, and we stayed

with boyfriends and a stepdad,” Paul said. “You never

knew what you were going to come home to. We didn’t

trust anybody; everyone was telling us lies.” In and out of therapy for several months, Paul livedin a shelter in Little Rock before he and one sister were sent to live with a foster family in Trumann.

“I was bullied and beat up at school there,” Paul said.

“In May 2006, I went back to Heber to stay with my great-grandfather and his new wife.” A month later, the two kids were sent to live at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch in Bethesda.

While living at the Ranch, Paul’s house mother, Margie Ferguson, was killed in a car accident on her way to pick up Paul and his “brothers” at the movie theater.

“She was the one lady in the world that I wished was my mom,” Paul said. “We were heartbroken.” Paul said he asked to leave the Ranch during his 11th-grade year.

“They sent me to jail and then to another therapeutic place,” Paul said. “Things kind of fell apart after Ms. Margie died. Then I met my new best friend at school.” Rachel Shellenberger and Paul quickly became best friends, and she told him she planned to attend Lyon College after graduation. Paul said he began working hard to reach the goal of getting into Lyon, too.

Not only was Paul accepted to Lyon, but he was awarded an honors scholarship.

“During this past academic year, we held five Honors Day events on Saturdays and invited high school seniors who have an ACT score of 24 or higher to come to campus and compete for Honors Scholarships,” said Tim Bruner, vice president for university advancement at Lyon. “Robert was selected competitively, based on a writing sample, interview, standardized test score and his high school GPA, to receive a scholarship worth $32,000 over four years.”

Paul plans to major in psychology and to work with kids who are going through similar experiences that he’s had.

“I could become a therapist today with all the therapy I’ve had,” Paul said with a laugh. “I’ve had it since I was 8.”

In November, Paul went to work at S & S Liquidations in Batesville.

“He’s a very uncommon young man,” said Mark Shreve, owner of S & S Liquidations. “He’s so polite and so friendly. Customers brag on how polite he is.”

Shreve also commented on Paul’s work ethic.

“He’s here on time, he does more than you ask for, and I don’t have to say, ‘Bobby, go put a chair together.’ He just gets to work,” Shreve said.

Jim Black works part time at S & S Liquidations with Paul, and he also sees Paul’s potential for greatness.

“I’ve been a pastor for 37 years, and Bobby is one of the finest young Christian men I’ve been around in a long time,” Black said. “He’s a very grounded young man, and it’s a joy to be around him. He’s always smiling and wants to help people.”

Paul said he has always wanted happiness and success, and he believes that in order to project this, he must carry himself a certain way. He also credits a few key people in his life for helping him find direction and realize anything is possible.

“There are certain standards you have to live by,” Paul said. “Sometimes you have a bad supporting cast, but then there’s always that one person.”

Youth Ranch CEO Mike Cumnock said he’s impressed with Paul and how Paul has overcome so many obstacles.

“Bobby is a great young man with a lot of potential,” Cumnock said. “He has arrived at that place in his life where he recognizes that he has done well but knows that he is not a finished product yet and people are willing to help you. That alone is a big step when you are matureenough to know that you still have a lot to learn. As I pointed out to him the older I get the more I realize that I don’t know. I am proud that he has allowed me to be part of his life.”

Paul likened his new sense of direction to rising from the ashes. When asked what advice he would give to someone coming from where he’s been, Paul said, “Anything is possible. You just have to putyour head to it.”

Paul’s current house mother, Kristy Stewart, believes nothing will stand in his way.

“When Bobby makes up his mind,” Stewart said, “little to nothing will stand in his way. ... We believe that Bobby will continue to succeed with the support of his friends and family, and we are proud of him and love him.” - jbrosius@ arkansasonline.commatter of fact Name: Robert “Bobby” Paul Birth date: June 17, 1992 Birthplace: Searcy Biggest influences: I have two. Jordan Howard - he’s always had my back, and he knows me better than anyone. I tell him everything. Michael David Pickering - he was the only one who came to visit me in jail.

First job: At age 11, I was a roofer for my uncle Doug. It’s one of the worst jobs in the world.

As a child, you said, “When I grow up, I want to be …”: Like most kids, I wanted to be the next president or an astronaut.

One thing you want to accomplish in life but haven’t: I want to find happiness.

Most people don’t know: I have a big fear of losing everything.

I cannot live without: My best friend, Rachel Shellenberger My favorite memory is: It’s a fake memory, but the first time I ever heard that “Cat’s in the Cradle” song, I kept picturing my dad coming home to me and being a normal family. My favorite real memory is meeting my new best friend, Rachel.

Hobbies: Music - I listen to music all the time, and I write poetry.

Favorite quote: “Our destiny is not written for us but by us.”

Three Rivers, Pages 127 on 05/16/2010

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