Man Goes From Janitor To Principal Of The School He Cleaned For 27 Years

Hard work and perseverance has the power to literally to change your life. But sometimes you need a little bit of inspiration or motivation to light your fire. At times the missing factor between a person living the life of their dreams and remaining comfortable where they are is simply belief.

Words of wisdom

Gabe Sonnier used to be the janitor at Port Barre Elementary until one day that changed the direction of his life. In 1985, then school principal Westley Jones took Gabe aside and said, “I’d rather see you grading papers than picking them up.”

No one had ever expressed that much belief in Gabe Sonnier before. The principal’s words landed on Gabe who says, “I took it to heart.”

Hitting the books

At 39, Gabe began studying.

“I would come to work at like 5 in the morning and leave at 7 and go to school all day and then come back and finish up my eight hours of work here and then go home and do homework.”

-Gabe Sonnier

Gabe completed a teaching degree, then in 2008 he got his first teaching job at Port Barre Elementary! After that, he graduated with a Masters from Arkansas State University. Finally, in 2013, Gabe Sonnier became the principal of the same school he had cleaned for 27 years.

Gabe still cleans his own office to this day.

Gabe says, “Don’t let your situation that you’re in now define what you’re going to become later.”

“I always tell them it’s not where you start, it’s how you finish.”

-Gabe Sonnier

Never underestimate yourself

Never let your current circumstances discourage you from pursuing your dreams. Where there is a will, there is a way, no matter your starting point.

Do not underestimate what belief can do for yourself and for others. It can ignite your spirit and launch you on a journey walking step by step towards your best self.

Dedication can take you so far that things can come full circle. Walk that journey with pride no matter what stage you are at. No goal is too far out of reach when your work ethic aligns with your intentions. Strive for your dream position and watch yourself fulfill that role with time.

You can be whoever you want to be in this life, but in order to get there, you have to go for it first. Once your drive has been sparked by belief, there is no telling where you might go.

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