Hello and welcome to Networkingforlife.org! I’d like to start off by introducing myself to you, the reader, and provide some background as to who I am and why this particular website exists. My name is Albert J. Garry and I was raised, protected, and cared for on Caplin Street, in Houston, Texas by my parents who are from Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, Louisiana. They tried sharecropping for a while, but soon discovered that line of work would keep them owing other people forever, thus they decided to migrate to Texas seeking work opportunities and better school opportunities for their children. After high school in 1977, I joined the US Marines Corps because of a recommendation from a good friend. Afterward, in 1979, I attended electronics school in Dallas, Texas where I began learning about new things and how systems and team-building could be a great thing for me. In 1981, I had the opportunity to help with testing the first underwater towed array mobile system designed for tracking submarines for the US Navy. In 1983, I had the opportunity to be an active field service Ship Mission Supervisor/shipmate for the Great SURTASS DOD team, where we protected the shores of our country during the COLD WAR timeframe. I learned the value of teamwork and why it is important to understand and support your team and others when they are working on something new, exciting, and important. I am a Texas United States of America Marines Veteran. During my time protecting the shores of our country, I had the pleasure of reading an article about why people go into business for themselves so I did some more research on the matter. In July 1992, not only did I have the opportunity to join the General Electric HealthCare Medical Equipment Repair Service team, but I also purchased a Child Care Facility and it was with this purchase that I realized I had found my passion for my life! I was providing educational tools and better information to children and their families so they could better take care of themselves before and after high school. In 1998, the concept of “Networking for Life” was developed and established and while completing my Bachelor's Degree in Technical Management and during my MBA studies in 2001, the book “Networking for Life – The Educational Process” was drafted, then published in 2005. In May 2020, as my daughter was about to graduate from college, we began laying the foundation for her to take the lead position in developing our student achievement awareness website, www.networkingforlige.org while I launched the first Summer Student Achievement Awareness Program that is hosted in the community where our student-customers actually reside. The added benefits of our new approach include parents not having to provide transportation to our learning environment as Networkingforlife.org's mission is to turn the community into an educational learning environment. Other benefits include the opportunity for other students not enrolled in our youth educational services activities to be exposed to our youth opportunities that are available in their own community, thus they can walk to participate at no cost. The first Summer 2020 program took place between September 2020 through November 2020 on Saturday mornings on Caplin Street, Houston, Texas 77026. The second Summer Program took place in July 2021. The third Summer program is scheduled for July 2022. From September 2020 through February 2021, I had the great opportunity to participate in the Npower, Inc, program for military veterans desiring to learn more about IT training opportunities. I earned my Comp TIA ITF+ certification, my Comp TIA A+ certification, and my Google IT Professional Certificate. As a Npower, Inc intern, I participated in a Data Analysis Track where I was exposed to Big Data and the stories they tell to business leaders. I had the opportunity to give a 3-minute presentation about the myth of children giving up on their American dreams after high school as I was learning that our children's dreams are being taken. I AM A SURVIVOR! I have survived several near-death experiences including at 18 months old when I was found not breathing and purple in my crib and with great thanks to my Uncle, who upon this discovery, began the process of tossing me into the air and catching me until I started breathing again. The second time was in the swimming pool at Francis Scott Key Jr. High school during the summer. As a kid, we often learn by watching what other kids do and I use to watch the older swimmers jump into the deep end of the pool and come back up again. Mind you, however, I had never learned how to swim, but thought I could do the same. One day I decided that I too wanted to touch the bottom of the 10-foot deep pool just like I had watched the bigger kids do. So, while in the pool, I slowly allowed myself to float down until my feet touched the bottom of the pool. Because I did not know that I was supposed to kick my legs or use my arms to create upward movement, when I had reached the bottom, I did not know the next steps. With that being the case, I started to hold my arms up over my head and it was then that I had proceeded to slowly start floating upward, however I came to a stop about 12 inches from the surface! My heart began to pound louder and louder, but I still did not panic. A few seconds later, I heard the sound of water splashing and I could see another kid swimming my way. As he got closer, a voice told me to grab the kid’s leg, which I did and he pulled me to the top. I quietly got out of the pool and walked home alone thinking that I thought I knew how to swim all that time, but clearly didn’t have any real experience and nearly drowned. The third time was in my role as a husband and father. I’ll never forget this as it was the day my first born son was about to come home for the very first time from the hospital and because I was so excited, I had stayed up that whole night cleaning the house and washing the vehicles. However, because I had stayed up the night before with little to no sleep, the very next morning and while driving, I eventually fell asleep on the freeway! Upon suddenly awakening, I found myself just within a few seconds of colliding with a 25-foot truck that was stopped on the side of the freeway, but instead of me crashing into the back of that large truck, I was able to swerve just in time just clipping the corner of the truck. Needless to say, I was shaken up, but okay and blessed because the ambulance I was in actually took me to the same hospital where my wife and son were waiting on me. After being looked over and finally cleared by the hospital doctors to leave, I was able to rent a vehicle and get my wife and newborn son home safely that day. In my roles as a husband and father, my entire mindset, perspective, and outlook on life have completely changed. I am a grateful husband and father of three children, whom I love dearly. Over their growing years, I have engaged and served in various activities such as soccer coach for 15 years with the Networking for Life Tigers, 10 years as PTA Officer for their elementary school, and a current member of the Texas Inventors Association, and numerous other volunteer and mentor activities. I also lead the chess club and my daughter’s basketball team. The basketball team was important because the other coach was allowed to yell and scream at the players, and as the kids were all crying, except the other coach’s daughter, no parent did or said anything, thus I stood up to protect the entire team. The last game of the season was super special because our last placed team was playing the league favorite to win the title. No one gave us a chance because we only had 7 players for the game, verse the other team’s 15-player team. It was the greatest upset ever as our team was terrified. With fear in their eyes, all I could think of was to ask my team to just try to listen to my voice over the noise of the crowd and we will have some fun. We won the game by maybe 15 points or more, as the game was not even close. I was extremely proud of the girls that day. My daughter played the best game of her life that game!Nevertheless, presently, and just like the times I had to fight for my life, I now find myself in another fight for life, but this time it is not my own life, it is my daughter’s and many more lives like hers. Another one of life’s challenges has been thrown my way once again. On June 9, 2020, one of my children, my only daughter was taken away from her family and from our home while her parents and other siblings slept in their beds.My daughter, my child that was taken away from her family under the cover of night is the reason why this particular website truly exists. I want you to know who I am because I am a survivor of life, and I know that God has been watching over me, and preparing me for this new chapter in my life. He continues to give me the strength, fortitude, endurance and courage to carry on and meet the challenges of this important work!