A High School Dropout Finds Support On Road From Prison To Law School

In a StoryCorps interview this month, Bob VanSumeren described how Mike McKenney's support helped him turn his life around — from felon to lawyer.Courtesy of Mike McKenney and Bob VanSumeren for StoryCorps

Eventually, he robbed a gas station and a bank. He served nearly six years in prison for those crimes.VanSumeren, now 41, spoke with Mike McKenney, 65, for a remote StoryCorps interview last week, looking back on how, with the McKenneys' support, he turned his life around and became a lawyer. "Your visits kept me from sinking fully into prison," VanSumeren said."They were like coming up out of the bottomless pit for a minute."

"I don't know if I have ever seen fog as thick as that. It was like a wall on each side of the bridge," he said."When we got to the other side, it was like, changed from one world to the next. And I thought, 'When Bob gets to the other side, he's going to be OK.' And you were."

I did one year in prison recently. Now I will get mental assistance. Then, I will make a schizotypal attempt at world peace...

white privilege strikes again

The story starts with the parents of his 'ex-girlfriend' and that's the only mention. What happened to her?

Great story. Congrats Bob.

Beautiful history.

I see a lot of comments re race. If you want the black version, read Nathan McCall's 'Makes Me Wanna Holler'. The prison system is woefully incapable of making these kinds of stories more than highly unusual. Let's cheer for these individuals' successes together, black or white.

That's qwhite a story

Occasionally caged people are released then they go on to put other people in cages! Nothing wrong here

I heard this episode on Story Corps today. He said that those monthly visits would pull him from the abyss. They saved him. Those folks traveled 10 once a month to see him...amazing people.

There is always a second chance, it’s how you use that chance

They may be the best ex girlfriend’s parents of all times

A wonderful true story!

Compassion and wisdom 👍

Bobthemediaguy I kind of want to know if he and Jillian ever got back together?

Inspirational story of personal growth

Very inspirational and a lovely new chapter begins. Keep prison reform alive!

Biden actually said that Hitler was a “friend to America” in the debates! WRONG! Before the USA entered WWII we were sending help to Great Britain.

anything on the horizon about Hunter Biden?

Wouldn't it be great if each of us chose one person or one family, unrelated, to look out for? Especially people who might not have other family members nearby.

Not everyone wastes their time. He was able to make a turn around from the choices he made

Was he able to get hired by a white shoe law firm with two felonies on his record? Or even a disreputable one operating out of a strip mall repping coke lords? This is just an NPR fluff-piece.

Sounds about white.

A good reminder that people are not just the worst thing they have ever done.

Hopeful story, loved it!

Wow—it's almost as if *rehabilitation*, rather than simple incarceration, is the best route to positive outcomes.

Sounds like white people white peopleing but ok

What a great story.

I vol a transitional living program that has a lot of re-entry guys. The challenges they face are enormous and not many make it. Breaks your heart. Institutionalized is a real phenom. Flip side, when a guy starts to get it...and be a part of life. It's beyond cool.

It’s not a reach for a white American to get a second chance, we need to stop shooting AA PEOPLE and giving them the same!

America’s 1 succes for every 1 million failures story from a corrupt privatized money driven prison system where we create violent criminals out of non-violent offenders. A system that makes 90% of criminals worse than when they started in the “rehabilitation system”

Bob barker?

This is an encouraging report. We can overcome just about everything in life and reach the sky. We just have to try, try and try. We succeed at last! Good for you Bob and all your people. Congratulations

Awesome story!!!! Can he help with the HunterBidensLaptop deal?

👍👍👍👏👏👏

keribla - this is right up your alley.

Inspirational story.

I love this! Well done Bob and ex-girlfriend parents!

God bless. That's a great story and I like it a lot. Redemption is great.

This is Wonderful. And dad style not wavering a bit.

This sounds like a word problem

We all need more cheerleaders in our lives! How wonderful

Wow...what a story!!! Congratulations Bob -- may you have a successful and wonderful life ahead of you.

Sweet lady Bitcoin! She is kill-ing-it! I love the Bitcoin supporters too. 'Sophisticated intellectuals' and 'Futurists' were two of my favorite descriptions! Let's go BITCOIN! 🔥

True love.

Respect to dedication

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