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Curtis is from Conyers, Georgia (rural area)
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In third grade he had a teacher conference
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Teacher said he is a nice boy but has a reading problem and needs to repeat the 3rd grade
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Curtis decided to lie about not being able to read or write so people would not call him dumb or stupid
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He doesn't blame the school for not helping him but he is learning the skills to lie and not be questioned
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If you sound smart people will think your smart. he watched tv/videos to get some vocabulary to keep up the scam
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Heavy electives and light on academics for his schedule in high school
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Star football player, student council member and won a cooking competition
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He got a scholarship for college his whole family was happy. he was scared because he had to lie for 4 more years
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halfway through his sophomore year (1,5. years) he dropped out of college
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he moved to california.
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got a job at a grocery store but he got in trouble with the boss because he can't read
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he wanted to open his own produce company (fruits/vegetables)
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he would give blank checks to the companies because he could not read the invoises
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curtis did not know he had to lower his prices and lost customers and his business fell
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curtis was traveling and could not read the road sign or airport sign
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curtis saw a PSA for a program that helps people read with no judgment
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he took literally classes with Steve and ginny. he felt happy to be honest about his problem
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he does really well with the literacy program and can now read a book a week
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he goes back to Georgia- starts another produce company and eventually becomes a food columnist
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he decided to become a celebrity and use his platform to reach out to the illiterate community
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he called an old friend and confessed his past and the friend called the news shows to share his story
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published his first cookbook
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curtis messed up on TV reading the a teleprompter and cried on national TV
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people called the TV show looking for help with reading because of curtis