MARION, S.C. --

The Marion Boys and Girls club got a chance to dabble in their futures last week when a motivational speaker provided by Pee Dee Regional Education Centers Personal Pathways to Success Making Your Future Count program paid them a visit.

Al Duncan, an entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, spoke to several middle and high school club members about deciding their own futures and not letting their surroundings or their circumstances decide it for them.

It is up to you and you alone to decide what happens to your future, he said during his speech. Whos it up to?

Me, a club member responded.

With a simple nod, a smile and a thats right Duncan continued his speech where he indulged members with the story of his upbringing in Philadelphia and how at a young age he found out his father was on drugs. He shared how he became a successful musician, just to see that crumble away because of his lack of self restraint and spending habits.

He discussed his low point when he had to sell his saxophone he had had since he was nine years old, just so he could return home and care for his brother who had been getting into trouble. Then, how at the age of 24, he moved to Atlanta with his brother to keep him out of trouble and worked his way up the food chain at Olive Garden to become a chief chef. All ending to where he is today; the author of five books (most notably My Success Journal) and CEO of Al Duncan Enterprises LLC.

He told his story to highlight the reason he was there; so the group of young people can decide their own future no matter where they come from or who tells them otherwise.

Making Your Future Count is a career prep workshop for middle and high school youth and their parents. Those who participate will hopefully understand the importance of defining long-term goals and how to achieve them, consider their strengths, interests and the future job market when choosing a career path and develop goals that are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.

The Pee DeeRegionalEducationCenterreceived a $7,500 College Access Challenge Grant from the S.C. Commission on Higher Education to fund the program, according to Pee Dee Regional Education Center Coordinator Cheryl H. Lewis. They then used the grant to get Monster.com involved and provide the speaker.

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Marion Boys and Girls Club members learn from motivational speaker