Chapter 8: Redemption and Second Chances

In the end, thanks to good behavior, Little Col was released six months early.

He walked out of prison with a duffel bag, a clean record, and a heart full of hope.

September 28, 2016.

The air felt different—fresh, full of possibility. Little Col took a deep breath, savoring freedom.

On this day, Little Col walked free.

He looked up at the sky, searching for planes, dreaming of second chances.

To pay off his debts, he planned to find steady work.

He applied everywhere—construction sites, grocery stores, even fast food joints. But the past followed him.

His former defense lawyer reached out, offering him a job.

She remembered his determination, his wit, and saw potential others missed.

So, Little Col—who hadn’t even graduated high school—joined a top law firm as a clerk.

He filed papers, ran errands, and soaked up every lesson. The office buzzed with activity, and Little Col thrived.

His story was later adapted into biographies and documentaries.

Authors interviewed him for hours, filmmakers followed him around with cameras. His life became an open book.

Hollywood’s 20th Century Fox paid over $1 million for the film rights.

He watched the trailer online, laughing at the actor chosen to play him. It was surreal.

The steady stream of royalties allowed Little Col to pay off his debts in just a few years—and save money, too.

He set up a savings account, bought his mom a new couch, and donated to local charities.

But to everyone’s surprise, with no financial worries, he didn’t apply to be a pilot at Boeing.

He realized he wanted something different—a chance to help others, to share his story.

Instead, he chose to become a public speaker, traveling the country and using his "failed" experiences to help young people facing life’s challenges.

He visited schools, youth centers, and rehab clinics, telling kids, "Your past doesn’t define you."

Many people think that at 25, Little Col had already lived a life most people couldn’t imagine.

He joked that he’d squeezed three lifetimes into one.

His early years were certainly dramatic.

He shared stories of wild escapes, painful losses, and unexpected victories.

But only Little Col knows that behind the excitement was a lot of pain and helplessness.

He spoke openly about loneliness, fear, and the search for meaning.

His wild ups and downs nearly left him with nowhere to go.

He told kids, "It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to start over."

As for now, planes are still his passion.

He volunteers at local airports, teaches kids about aviation, and still dreams of flying.

But whether or not he becomes a pilot doesn’t matter anymore.

He’s learned that life is bigger than any one dream.

As he wrote on his personal homepage:

Life is what you make of it.

You create your own path.

But maybe this saying fits him even better now:

Growing up isn’t about what you can do—it’s about what you can own up to.

He signs every talk with those words, hoping they stick with the next kid facing a crossroads.