Speaker 1 0:00

My name is Virgil Revish . I'm a native of Petersburg , but now I live in Chesterfield . I've been living in Chesterfield for about 24 years now , and so I've been working in the school system , I'd say for about 40-some years working with youth . But what I found out this year , what my niche was , it was the sixth graders . The reason I say sixth graders is because that's the beginning of their lives , sixth graders . The reason I say sixth graders is because that's the beginning of their lives .

Speaker 1 0:27

By beginning of their lives , just like , they have to know how

The Three P's Philosophy

Speaker 1 0:30

to have a plan in place , and so when I speak with them , I ask them , I say what do you want to do ? That's the first thing I'm asking . So you want to go to school , you want to go in the workforce . So someone want to go to school , someone want to go in the workforce . So what I say ? You need the three p's first . What are the three p's ? The three p's are playing the preparation of your plan in the last stage is presentation . But what happened ? They added another one . That other one that I add , that's the plus one p . That plus one p is add , that's the plus one P . That plus one P is patience , and so we all need patience . So anyone can use that plan . Anybody need not know how to prepare their plan . And then the last stage is present .

Speaker 2 1:18

Yeah , absolutely . Take me back a little bit . What originally drew you to education and community mentorship ? Give me a quick , kind of like overview of your journey from teaching junior high to your continuing education and consulting work .

Speaker 1 1:33

Really my father . He was an advocate of education . My father had a fifth grade education and it was seven of us and , just like , all of us went to college and my father worked civil service . And what I noticed about my father , he was my mentor . By being my mentor he showed to talk to us about responsibility , leadership , accountability , those types of things .

Journey into Education and Mentorship

Speaker 1 2:04

And when I started noticing what my father was doing , how he was raising us he worked the civil service I'm going to go back to that and we had two weeks for vacation in the summertime .

Speaker 1 2:15

My father drove a dump truck and I saw during that time , when I was young , how my father was taking care of us , plus my mother . She was at home , she prepared the meals , kept the house clean , and my father , you know , he went to work . But all of us were successful , all of us had good educations and you know it trinned from my father you know it's trending from a father I saw he was my mentor , he was my light and so he was . I just , you know , just followed that . And what really got me into education ? Just like my football coach , I was a football player and I got two scholarships but , I , didn't go to those schools because at the time those schools didn't have good athletic programs .

Speaker 1 3:08

So I went to Virginia State , went there for about three , three and a half years and I would have went four years . But my football coach , he was assistant principal down at Peabody Junior High School . That's the same school I graduated from . It was a high school then and my class was the last class to graduate from Peabody High . So I taught there from 75 , 76 . So during that time I took advantage of the GI Bill . So I went into the military . I had signed up a year before I went in . You call that , what do you call it ? You call it delayed entrance .

Speaker 2 3:43

Oh , okay .

Speaker 1 3:43

And so I went in a year after that . So I did three and a half years . Then , after three and a half years , I moved to Fairfax and so I worked in the school system up there . That's when I met Ms Bonnie Cooper . She was the director of SACC , that's school-age child care , and so I did that for about four years . And then I moved back down to Petersburg . I worked at the wastewater treatment plant . So I did that for about a year and a half . I re-injured my back and so I came out on workman's comp . And so , coming out on workman's comp , I started looking at some more things . And so back in this was 87 . When it came out 89 , I put my social security paperwork in . That was approved back in 1989 .

Speaker 1 4:36

And so from there , 93 , 93 , a friend at Petersburg High School whose name was Larry Brown . He said man , I have a program . He said I see how you work with youth . And he said we'd like for you to start this program . It was called School Watch . And what happened ? I said let me look at the paperwork and I said I'll bring it back next week , coming up . I looked at the paperwork . I said man , I think I like the program . And so what I did ? I was the area coordinator at the time and so by being an area coordinator I start talking to other folks so they can be volunteers coming in for the help with the program . So we had military helping us out , we had retired school teachers , we had people that's in the community . So we had a lot . I had about at least about 100 to 150 volunteers working . We also had the police officers because they gave us training how to defend ourselves , you know . And so you know the program was very successful during that time , got a letter from Bill Clinton when he was the president , got a letter from Governor Gilmore when he was the governor , and so you know they liked the program and so we say we're going to start implementing some things within the school .

Speaker 1 6:02

Fast forward my program Vision Going to the Next Level . Two have received scholarships from my program . The first one he had about one more year before he received his PhD . He also has a group home . The second individual he just graduated from Virginia State . He had four professional teams looking at him but he got injured last year so he's rehabilitating his right

Vision Going to the Next Level

Speaker 1 6:33

now but I'm pretty sure he'll probably get an offer but he's getting ready to go back and continue his education , also to work on his master's .

Speaker 1 6:41

Oh wow . But what I'll be doing ? I'll be going around talking to families , talking to students , you know , about continuing education , seeing what they want to do , where they want to go . And then you know my program . It really works because I have a lot of media coverage behind me that's written about it and they say it's very successful , this program Vision Going to the Next Level . My second book is called If you Look Up , you Can Get Up . If you Look Up , you Can Get Up . That's the program itself . It starts from the ninth grade until they graduate from high school . I have a guideline form for that , but they have to put the work in themselves . Anyone can go through this program , but they have to work it .

Speaker 2 7:28

And it's very successful . Awesome , yeah . As an author and mentor , how do you use your books to inspire adults engaged in continuing education programs ?

Speaker 1 7:40

Well , some of the parents don't really know . And so what I do ? I just go down and just tell them the basics . He said my child or my daughter wants to do this or want to do that . I said do they know ? Are they going to school ? They say yes . I said what school are they going to ? And so they tell me the school . I said the first thing , you need to know what the requirements , what the schools are looking for , because the schools are looking for numbers now SAT scores , act scores and GPA . Now , if you meet those requirements , I tell them . I said now pick five schools that you're interested in and see if you can qualify for those schools interested in , and see if you can qualify for those schools . And so they do that .

Speaker 1 8:25

And so the first young man who got the scholarship his dad used to take him every summer down to Virginia Beach , but this particular year , after he started working on his program , he started just doing what he had to do . But you know , he put his plan in place . I saw where he was improving , I saw where he was maturing and he really wanted to do that . And so he's my role model right there . He's my role model because I'm very excited for him . I'm very proud of him because I saw him from Asia . It was about when I first met him . He was about 12 or 13 when I first met him , and so he's doing very well now .

Speaker 2 9:18

That's amazing . Yeah . What unique challenges do adult learners face in continuing education and how does your consulting work help to address those ?

Speaker 1 9:28

Well , there's a lot just like they don't know . Just like the second young man whom I was working with yeah , good , gpa , but he hadn't done his test and I said you know , you have one more year , man . I said I'll be taking that test . He said no . So I went and talked to his guidance counselor .

Addressing Educational Challenges

Speaker 1 9:51

When he talked to his guidance counselor , I said what's the next date for the next test ? So what she did ? She looked that up and she signed him up for the next date . He matched the test . His academics is very good . He just didn't know how to get to that next level . Okay , and so what I did ? I'm sorry , oh it's okay .

Speaker 2 10:15

You're a busy man .

Speaker 1 10:17

So what I did ? I just helped him get to that next level .

Speaker 2 10:21

Yeah , absolutely . How does your experience as a speaker influence the way you design or support these continuing education initiatives ?

Speaker 1 10:31

I try to be a role model .

Speaker 2 10:32

Yeah .

Speaker 1 10:33

Just like I say , practice what you preach . And just like they see me , I'm always the same , every day .

Speaker 2 10:41

Yes , Just like when I first met you , I'm still the same .

Speaker 1 10:43

You're the same , like , just like when I first met you I'm still the same , you're the same . You have a nice smile , thank you . And then you know , um , by just saying all of that , it's how you carry yourself and people will will accept you more . You know , you don't have to be , phony , yeah , be for real and all you for real with them , they can accept it . And then you know , be for real when all you real with them , they can accept it . And then you know that's how I get through .

Speaker 2 11:06

Yeah , I love that advice . I totally agree . Your book Vision Going to the Next Level offers a lot of practical guidance . How do you see those principles helping ?

Speaker 1 11:24

continuing education , students overcome obstacles ? Well , a lot . Just like I've started my third book that's on bullying . Now bullying you have to be prepared for that , because you have three types of bullying . But you know where bullying starts from . It starts from home , yeah , and just like you may not seem like it's bullying , but it starts from home . And just like you may not seem like it's bullying , but it starts from home . But then you have to surround yourself around people who's going to influence you , who's going to make things better for you , and you know what .

Speaker 2 11:57

Yeah , no , I agree , I think it does start at home , and that's something I haven't heard spoken about until like a few years ago , but I wholeheartedly agree with that . In mentoring individuals pursuing lifelong learning , what mindset shifts do you find are most important for success ?

Speaker 1 12:16

Mindset you have to be . You have to focus , be focused , yes , and once you're focused , you have a clear mind . You can see things much better when you have a clear mind and you can focus on what you want to do .

Speaker 2 12:29

Yeah , I agree . How do you integrate your consulting insights into your speaking engagements focused on education and personal development ?

Speaker 1 12:39

It's like when I go out and speak , I just don't speak . I have interaction also . Yeah , because by having interaction they can understand what you're doing and then they can understand some things , what they need to do for themselves also , just like it's not just me , but they learn it as well

Books on Tour and Future Impact

Speaker 1 13:01

as I'm learning .

Speaker 2 13:02

Yeah , absolutely .

Speaker 1 13:03

We learn from each other , absolutely , yeah .

Speaker 2 13:05

Yeah , if there's one story that sticks out to you , besides the ones that you've kind of hit on about mentees , is there one that is particularly emotionally affecting to you or that really made an impact on why you do what you do ?

Speaker 1 13:25

What really made an impact was the first individual . I saw how he enjoyed football , how he wanted to play when he didn't play , when he couldn't play . It was a rude awakening for him . So what he did ? He prepared himself for that next year , and so the year that he couldn't play he had a 1.79 GPA Really Wow , and that's why he couldn't play . Then another thing he got his thing fenced up together . Everyone's calling you today he got himself together and he knew what he wanted to do .

Speaker 2 14:11

Yeah , awesome . And you know , um , you know what he wanted to do . Yeah , awesome . What would you say ? The future of the future of your career looks like . Like . What do you have in mind ?

Speaker 1 14:23

okay , I said the future is opening up because my book is on tour right now . Wow , it's on international tour .

Speaker 2 14:33

And which book is this out of the three ?

Speaker 1 14:35

Vision .

Speaker 2 14:36

Okay , Vision .

Speaker 1 14:37

If you look up and they was chosen to be on this tour my books .

Speaker 2 14:41

Wow , congratulations .

Speaker 1 14:43

So what happened with that tour is September 10th through September 14th I may be going to the Philippines . Wow , they gave me the red carpet , so I'm just finalizing things right now . And also my two books . They've also been listed in the colleges , also been listed in the schools also .

Speaker 2 15:06

That's amazing . You're going to have so much impact too . I thought that feels really , really good . What would you say ? The most fulfilling part of what you do is Like what ? What keeps you going every day ?

Speaker 1 15:19

Seeing a kid get to the next level . If I didn't get to that next level , they put the work in so they have earned it and so that rewards me . When I see them put the work in , come and ask me questions what I need to do next , then if I don't know the question , I get the answer for them and I bring it back to them .

Speaker 2 15:39

Yeah , that's incredible . Well , is there anything that I didn't touch on that you wanted to kind of talk about ? You've done so much and you've spoken so much about everything , but is there anything you want to dig into in particular ?

Speaker 1 15:53

I just enjoy what I do , and you know I really haven't really gotten paid like I should be getting paid , but you know things are picking up now though . Yeah .

Speaker 2 16:03

Things are picking up now , touring the Philippines red carpet , and I hear that phone ringing too , so that's always good .

Speaker 1 16:09

Just like it's selling a lot overseas , and so I'm just amazed about that , and I'm glad people are picking the information up .

Speaker 2 16:26

And if they have any kind of information , they can give me a call , or even just they can email me . Yeah , and that's great that you're so accessible too , that if anyone needs anything , you make yourself open to just answering their questions and really helping each person get to a successful point , just as you had that journey to success and you had , you know , wonderful mentors and wonderful parents along the way .

Speaker 1 16:43

My father , you know , I just admired him and so I said , if I wanted to do this , I have to be a stand-up person , I have to be a light for them . Yeah , then I have to lead it .

Speaker 2 16:57

Yeah , and so many kids and adults don't have that . They don't have that father figure . They don't have that father figure . They don't have that mentorship . So I just think it's so incredible that you're able to be that mentor for so many people .

Speaker 1 17:09

So thank you for what you do . Oh , absolutely . When you put Christ first , nothing can bother you . Then You're going to go through processes . Everybody has a process . Everybody's process is different .

Speaker 2 17:24

Yeah .

Speaker 1 17:25

And so you know you go through your process , you pray on it and then some of these things that's beginning to come forth now . I had prayed about these things and what God had done for me two years previous he did this two years before Show

Faith, Process and Perseverance

Speaker 1 17:43

me , I'll be on big stages , money here , money there . But you know it's not about the money , but you know it's good to have it Absolutely . But you know he had showed this two years ago . But you know what he did . He says it's a process that you need to go through . He said you haven't done this process . You know what that process was .

Speaker 1 18:04

I've been married twice . My first marriage I wasn't there because I was in the military and I was up in Northern Virginia . I told my ex-brother , my wife at the time , then I said y'all come back down here to Petersburg and I said I'm going to call you guys up once I get situated up there . And so when I got situated I was going through some hardship and stuff . And so I went through a separation . And going through that separation it was kind of , you know , it was a damper , but it was a rude awakening too , and so that was part of my process and what I'm trying to get at about the process , the reason I added process , the patience , the reason I added that one . I said I'm going to test your patience . That's what he did . And so I said I don't want to do it this time . And so I said what he gave me to do . It was hard and it's still hard , but you know what I'm getting through it .

Speaker 2 19:03

Yeah , you got to persevere . It's such an important quality for people to have and for people to build , so that's amazing . I'm getting through it though .

Speaker 1 19:11

But you know what ? Everybody have a process , and then you have to recognize your process also . Yes , and once you recognize your process and you give it to my daddy upstairs , he's going to take care of it for you , yeah .

Speaker 2 19:25

Is there anything else you wanted to add or anything you wanted to talk about ?

Speaker 1 19:29

that I didn't hit on . I'm good right now .

Speaker 2 19:31

Yeah , well , it was such a pleasure talking to you and having you on the show . Yeah , thank you for sitting down with me today . Virgil , it's not a problem .

Speaker 1 19:42

I .