All things are possible: From drugs and uselessness to West Point Cadet

I stumbled across this brief article on  a young man who has just made a journey that takes guts and determination. Especially, since it involves a journey out of drug use and into an amazing future.

This gives hope to me, as I see folks succeed at New Hope Community Health. They may not be headed to West Point, but they ARE headed to a new and better life.

Den

Life-turnaround lands cadet at West Point
Sean Poyner had difficult time at 2 local high schools
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
Sean Poyner's life was heading in the wrong direction. By the age of 16, he had been asked to leave two local high schools and the prospect of being a high school dropout loomed ahead.

Sean Poyner

But today, through self-determination and with the support of his family and friends, Poyner, 21, is a member of the class of 2012 at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Poyner, a Freehold Borough resident, concluded his training on Aug. 18 and was officially accepted in the Corps of Cadets on Aug. 23.

His journey from an almost high school failure to Cadet Poyner at West Point is inspiring and offers lessons of hope that nothing is impossible.

According to Poyner's father, Drew Poyner, Sean began his high school career at St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and was enrolled in honors math and advanced science courses and was a member of the Lancers' football team. At the end of his freshman year, the young man was asked to leave St. John Vianney.

"Sean became involved in drugs and was getting into fights," said Poyner, a Colts Neck resident. "He transferred to Freehold High School, but things were not much better. After about two and a half years there, he was asked to attend the Freehold Regional Adult High School night program."

It was in the Freehold Regional High School District's adult high school that Poyner found his bearings and became the class representative for his graduating adult high school class of 2005 that numbered 25 students.

When he graduated, Poyner addressed his classmates and guests at an FRHSD Board of Education meeting and said, "When I left high school, I felt like everything was spinning out of control. I didn't realize how lucky I was to be given a second chance. Night school offered me a second chance to receive a high school diploma and helped me get my life back on track."

After graduation, Poyner attended Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, for a year and then spent six months at DeVry Institute, New Brunswick, studying technology.

"He needed a challenge and was deciding between a career in the culinary arts or the military," his father said. "He decided on the Air Force."

Poyner said after his son tested very high in the linguist program, the Air Force sent Sean to the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, Calif., where he became fluent in Farsi, the most widely spoken Persian language.

"Sean showed leadership qualities and was encouraged by superiors to apply to West Point," Poyner said. "He received an appointment (to the academy) in February 2008."

Poyner said he always urged his son to focus on a career and is inspired by Sean's will power and determination. Sean, he said, is now even closer to his brothers, David, 24, an artist, and James, 26, a technology specialist.

"The moral is never give up hope for you never know what you can do until you try," said Poyner, a vice president at BGC Partners, New York, an international technology company dealing with brokerage applications. "I was so proud of his success and to be there when Sean became Cadet Poyner."

At West Point, Poyner will study engineering as a minor and will choose a major in his third year, possibly history or linguistics. As an airman first class, he is on loan at West Point from the Air Force and will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army upon graduation.

"I'll go to West Point on weekends when he is eligible for visitors," Poyner said. "In between, I'll write letters, plus e-mail, text and phone. He'll be very busy, but I look forward to seeing him whenever it's possible."

Kathleen Cannon, Sean's mother, said she plans to see her son at Army's home football games that all of the cadets are required to attend.

"I'm so glad that Seam is close enough to visit," said Cannon, a Freehold Borough resident. "It's a great college, West Point, and offers not only military training, but excellent educational opportunities. It's good that he is older and more mature. It will help him focus."

Cannon, a registered nurse, said she is in awe of her son's success and the changes he has made.

"I can't believe it," she said. "Happy doesn't cover it. I'm ecstatic."

She said she always knew deep down that there was something more for the young man.

"I'm surprised, but not surprised," she said. "All things are possible."

Comments

[Believer]

Dear Sean,

Many of us don't see in ourselves the amazing accomplishments that others see in us. You had a battle with anger and alcohol as well as experimented with drugs. Most of the battles we fight in our daily lives are our own making. It does not mean that the fight is less valiant. On the contrary, fighting to correct past mistakes is far more honorable that tilting at windmills.

I pray that you are not attempting to fight the battles you face in life without God on your side. Any victories will be hollow and the glory from them short-lived.

You are an excellant example. Don't sell yourself short.

And, as an ex-sailor should say.....Go Navy, Beat Army! (back at ya, Den)

[Dennis]

Thanks, Sean. I appreciate your clarification.

I too sat, at one time, where you sit today. Though, I was not involved with drugs, etc, I DID enter into USMA with an addiction: I wanted to please people. My class ('78) was a great place within which I could mature. I learned that I just simply could not (and would not) please people: upper classmen, a home-town girlfriend, family or my classmates (E-2 Dogs). As I grew through my Plebe year and into my Yearling year I was tested and passed many of the tests...but not all of them.

See, in the middle of these successes, I never really reached out for God. I never submitted my heart to Jesus Christ. Said words...sounded patriotic...did good things, but never really "bent my knee" to the God of the Universe.

As you grow at USMA, keep the door open for Him. Keep your eyes open for providential intersections in life. Succeed in the things that matter...

And also always remember....

Go Army, Beat Navy! (tee hee)
Dennis

[Sean Poyner]

Mr. Mansfield,

Sir, thank you for your kind words. I would like to clarify a few things from the article and my father's comments. I do not mean to sound disrespectful. It's just that some things have been that have been presented seem exaggerated to me and I cannot in good conscious not explain the circumstances and my view of what happened. The reason for these inaccuracies is mostly because the people who wrote this article did not check with me before writing it, in fact I had no idea one was being written about me other than a standard hometown release that the military often sends out when someone completes their initial training. First, as to my father's comment, I have no idea what my class rank is. I have told him that I hope to be in the top 5%, but it is far too early in my career here to be making a statement like that. The class of 2012 will not receive their rankings until next semester. He must have misunderstood what I had said. Second, as to the article about me, I do not feel that I have done anything incredible or amazing. The quote "Sean became involved in drugs and was getting into fights," is misleading. I experimented with drugs in my freshman year of high school and very little in the following years. This was a part of my problems that I had at St. John Vianny High School. I also had serious discipline and, later, alcohol issues which I have since resolved. But, all of these issues were of my own making. My "turn around" was not an accomplishment or overcoming of odds stacked against me. I have always possessed the capabilities that have allowed me to succeed in my endeavors. In my youth I failed to use them. I was undisciplined, defiant, and generally unappreciative of the opportunities that I had been given. It took my leaving high school to realize that I had a responsibility to family and myself to do something with my life. I have always been patriotic and that influenced my decision to serve. However, I cannot say that my enrollment at USMA is for patriotic reasons. I was given the opportunity to study leadership and academics at one of the best institutions in the country and I took it. I will serve in the US Military after my time here is done and I do that because I feel that it is my duty to give back to this country everything that I had abused earlier in my life. It's why I enlisted and why I had and still do plan to have a lifetime of service to the nation. I would say that the only moral of my story is that nothing unobtainable. I believe that I worked very hard to get where I am. By "where I am" I do not mean West Point, I mean to the point where I realize that I need to work for what I wish to achieve, that I need to work to my fullest not for myself but for those I care about, and that if you want to do something bad enough then you need to believe in yourself. I do not think these characteristics are an accomplishment either, I feel that everyone of my classmates, everyone serving or who has served in the Armed Forces, and millions of other Americans share these values. Finally, to anyone who is at the New Hope Community Health I would say this: If you want something and you’re willing to work as hard as you can for it, without ever giving up, you can do anything.

Very Respectfully,
Sean B Poyner

[Dennis Mansfield]

Dear Dad,
Thanks so much for visiting the blog. I was President of my class (USMA '78)and my son is planning to attend (USMA '14).

We would LOVE to have updates from you. Spread the word to your son...and have him visit the blog...along with other cadets.
Den

[Drew Poyner]

Thank you for posting the link to this article. I am Sean's father and his story is a truly amazing personal story. I would be more than happy to provide you updates on Sean's progress. When Sean left for Basic I wrote him a letter and told him that "as being his father that I hoped I was an inspiration but now the tables are turned, you are an inspiration to me." As you can see, he continues to inspire - not only himeself but everyone he comes in contact with. As of today, he is in the top 5% of his class at West Point.