One of the definitions of uniform in the Webster Dictionary is being consistent in conduct.  When I was a teenager, I decided to endure a practice that came to be known as my Uniform Humiliation. This practice helped me become a successful adult. You may be pondering what this phrase means - allow me to elaborate.

HOOD DAYS

Back in my hood days, I used to go out with my friends and engage in unlawful activities. We would vandalize cars by stealing speakers, hubcaps, etc., which we would then sell for money.

The reason behind our actions was that we didn't want to face the humiliation of wearing a uniform for a job. Because back then, if you saw one of your homeboys in a work uniform, it was common to make fun of him. The fear of this Uniform Humiliation was a reality that many of us did not want to acknowledge, even though we know it was ridiculous.

CRIME vs JOB

One day I was forced to recognize the stupidity of choosing a crime over getting a job when a friend and I were driving around in a stolen car. Suddenly, a police car started following us and my friend got panicked.

He turned into the parking lot of an apartment complex and jumped out of the car while it was still moving with me inside. The car crashed into a large gate in front of the apartment complex. The police officer got out of his car and ran after my friend and I got out of the car and ran in the opposite direction.

As I was jogging home, police dogs started chasing me, which resulted in me jumping a barbwire fence and cutting my stomach. I managed to get away, and that incident made me realize that living a life of crime wasn't for me. Instead, I took a chance on Uniform Humiliation by getting my first job at an amusement park.

THE BUS ROUTE TO $7.00 AN HOUR

Initially, I would take a long route to catch the bus for work in order to prevent my friends from seeing me in my uniform. This worked well for several weeks until one day I overslept and had to rush to the bus stop. The only way to get there on time was by taking the shorter route, which meant walking past my friends in my uniform.

As I approached a group of my friends standing on the corner, my nerves were running high. All of them were looking at me with grins on their faces. Tim, who was 17 years old and known for selling drugs, pointed at me and said, "Look at Gene with that ugly uniform on."

Everyone started laughing hysterically. Then he asked me, "Where are you going?" I replied nervously, "I'm going to work! I got a job several weeks ago." Tim scoffed and said, "A job? Are you crazy? How much are they paying you?" When I told them it was $7.00 an hour, they laughed even harder.

"Gene, you could earn more money by stealing or selling drugs instead of slaving for $7.00 an hour. That's just stupid." "Whatever man. I'll talk to you all later." I hurried to the bus stop and managed to board just before it left. I sat next to the window and began contemplating my decision to work for such low pay after my friends humiliated me for wearing a uniform."

Needless to say, I chose to keep my job while my friends continued to steal and sell drugs. I endured their constant Uniform Humiliation and continued earning $7.00 an hour, while many of them were making upwards of $500 per day.

UNIFORM HUMILIATION GRATITUDE

Looking back, I'm grateful for my Uniform Humiliation because it helped me learn how to make good decisions in life. It also taught me how to deal with criticism with grace while striving for my goals. This has resulted in me becoming an educated adult, a seven-time author and a proud business owner.

As stated earlier, Webster Dictionary says that the word uniform can also be defined as being consistent in conduct. Therefore, you may encounter Uniform Humiliation that does not necessarily involve wearing a physical uniform. It can merely be in the form of you facing it because you deviated from the behavior of a group. For example, if you stop using drugs, but your friends still use drugs, and they start teasing you because you are now sober. This is also Uniform Humiliation.

There are many different ways to experience Uniform Humiliation, and while it may take different forms for everyone, I encourage you to persist through it because it will help you develop skills through life lessons that will help you achieve the success you deserve because You Are WORTHY TO BE GREAT!