Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Overcoming life’s obstacles
WCU student Frederick Shegog overcame homelessness and addiction by embracing education.
West Chester University student Frederick Shegog overcame homelessness and addiction by embracing education.
Everybody loves to hear about the success of someone who hit rock bottom and then got pulled far out of that hole.
The honors Communications major is a national professional motivational speaker.
“I’m empowering people to empower other people and getting other people to believe in themselves and find their passion,” Shegog said, this week from his Drexel Hill home.
After 20 trips to rehab and several mental hospitals, Shegog said he wrote down his goals.
“I stopped counting my days and started making my days count,” he said, with a smile visible through his COVID mask. “I was determined to learn everything about the diseases of addiction and mental health.
“I started attacking addiction with a life of health. My life completely did a 180.
“Education changed my life.”
The non-traditional, 38year old honors student, graduated from Delaware County Community College with a Communications degree. He is both proud and happy to have earned a full scholarship to West Chester University.
“I’m not just in college to change my bank account,” he said. “I’m in college to change my soul.
“Health is wealth. If we focus on how a student is doing outside the classroom we see the rewards of a good education.”
Shegog said he was “living animalistically.” Homeless, he slept on benches and next to a dumpster, dumpster dove for food and panhandled for cash.
A stranger approached as Shegog was prone on the ground, with no shoes. The man offered him a bottle of water and a pillow.
“Hey brother, you OK?” the good Samaritan asked.
“Let me die,” the 32year old Shegog said, “I’m a horrible person and I failed at life.”
The stranger: “You are not dying today. I called the ambulance and they’re on their way.”
After 78 days in a rehab and a stint at a halfway house, Shegog had his last drink and drugs and was well on his way to recovery.
“I got hungry and I’m not dying this way,” he said.
So now Shegog speaks out, including as keynote speaker to an audience of nearly 1,000 at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Conference.
“We’re in the worst epidemic this country has ever seen concerning substance abuse and mental health,” he said.
For such a young man, he dreams of a big legacy.
“Imagine if we lived in a world where everybody was focused on how they can make it a better place?” Shegog said. “What if we all use our gifts to make this a better place?”
Through his company, The Message LLC (www. themessagellc.com) Shegog motivates.
“Every time I speak in front of an audience my job is to inspire, educate and create healthy lifestyles for all,” he said.
Shegog is reaching for the stars and is working
toward graduating from WCU summa cum laude, with at least a 3.75 GPA.
“If my goals aren’t scaring me they’re not big enough,” Shegog said.
Most of us have never been homeless or addicted. That’s reason enough to celebrate and be thankful, while trying to make home a better place.
Shegog is going to be part of a joint ceremony on Tuesday, November 17, between WCU and DCCC that will celebrate an enhanced
dual admission agreement between the two institutions that provides increased access to students. The enhanced agreement now enables qualified, enrolled Delaware County Community College students to earn an associate degree and then transfer to West Chester University in their major along with guaranteed housing, a renewable scholarship, and success coaching!
In addition to West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino and Delaware County Community College President L. Joy Gates Black, the virtual ceremony on
Nov. 17 will feature inspirational messages from two students —— Shegog and a current DCCC student.
The following link provides access to the Nov. 17, 10 a.m. virtual signing ceremony: https://www. wcupa.edu/_admin/dccc/ virtualCeremony.aspx
Bill Rettew is a weekly columnist and Chester County native. He still gets a little nervous in front of an audience and thankfully he can’t see all those Daily Local News readers at the breakfast table. You may contact him at brettew@ dailylocal.com.