Check Out Cedrik Wallace’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cedrik Wallace.

Hi Cedrik, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Finding my clear purpose was a journey that started during my ups and down at Whittier College, through my years as an educator for the Los Angeles Unified School District, to the present where I am a 12+ year cancer survivor and in my 31st year at Garfield High School (GHS) in East Los Angeles. Oh and Garfield just turned 100 years old this year!

I knew that I always wanted to work with students. In the way of teaching and having an impact, in some form. Rather it be teaching, counseling, or a school psychologist. After graduating from Whittier College with a focus on Communications, Anthropology, Social Work, and Education, I did private tutoring and worked as a Teacher’s Assistant until I landed a teaching job. Because of the success I had with the students who struggled in their classes, I was offered a teaching job in Special Education. I became the first male teacher in the Special Education SLD program (Specific Learning Disability) at GHS.

After 7 years of success with students of disabilities and at-risk students, I was offered, again and again, to be the Dean of Student Discipline. I finally accepted the position after I finished earning my Master’s Degree in Special Education. Finding my purpose became clearer as I’ve been a Dean now for 24 years. Changing lives one student at a time and having an impact on them was becoming more evident.

However it wasn’t until I almost lost my life fighting cancer (Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer) in 2012, leaving my job for a year, surviving the cancer, and going back to work and maintaining remission all these years later… that I had not only found but truly learned my purpose. Drawing inspiration from students and their life battles that they’ve overcome. To see them walk through the doors of GHS daily knowing the weight some carry with them. The push through. This was the same for my coworkers going through life obstacles. How can I complain?! I had just beat cancer! I’m waking up every morning. Inspired is an understatement. To inspire was my way to pay it forward. “Live to inspire” became my mantra. My life’s motto. Living my best life, life after cancer. Letting people see me smiling all the time. Smiling because I’m feeling good or smiling because I’m not allowing the pain to ruin my mood and/or day. Listening to my body and listening to students when they had no one else to hear them out. Sharing my own stories of being human and imperfect but always striving to thrive and live with a growth mindset, even at this stage of my life. All while doing my job effectively!

Family, coworkers, former students, and other communities such as fellow cancer warriors and creatives also inspire me, to this day.

In the midst of my early years of remission I started writing down my thoughts. I had become a sensitive man. I’d cry. I’d ask why. My life was different. A new norm. A new quality of life. My writing turned in poetic writings and poems.

My very first poem was:

Why I Cry

I’ve become a sensitive man.
I don’t care.
If you see me cry,
care.
Don’t stare.
Ask.
I will tell you why.

…and another was:

5.7.12.

That day I woke up.
I wish I hadn’t.
The pain was too much.
Not knowing what happened.

Today I wake up.
Happy the line didn’t flatten.
It’s a miracle not luck.
All I went through and what happened.

I would write from a place of darkness and brightness. I was writing to heal. It has helped so much and I’m learning that it’s helping others.

I started an Instagram page under the username @poeticsoldier (fighting cancer with poetry) where I’d share my thoughts and poetry. The response was amazing. I was encouraged to share my story and that people needed to hear it. I finally did! I self-published a book called Why I Cry Burgundy Tears: Testimony and Poetic Writings. A memoir and poetry collection. (Note: Burgundy is the official color of Multiple Myeloma)

This gave me other opportunities to inspire. I share my story, my inspiration for writing, and my writing process in various creative writing classes at my school, every year. That started when a student had purchased my book from Amazon, read it, and shared it with one of his teachers, Ms. Melendez. He asked her if she would invite me to the class to read from my book. She invited me and I accepted. I was so nervous but it went well and I felt so good afterwards. To see their faces. To see them in awe. The student that purchased my book, raised his hand and asked if I’d sign it. Another said, “I had no idea, Mr. Wallace. I have so much more respect for you.” I’ve also done book readings for poetry month for my school’s library. I was also part of the schools’ Cancer Club where I shared my story and invited other staff to share their own stories of fighting cancer or loved ones who have/had cancer.
I was asked to read an original poem at my alma mater’s Black Graduation at Whittier College in 2021.

I was invited to be panelist at the LAUSD’s Young Men’s Conference: Building Strong Men this past school year by Garfield High School’s own School Climate advocate, Ms. Melissa Juarez.

The best is when a random student stops me and says, “Hey Mr. Wallace, you inspire me!”

Or “Hey Mr. Why are you always so happy?”

Or “Mr. Wallace, it’s because of you that I don’t give up”

Sometimes when I reply to them, I let my emotions bring watery eyes. To let them know it’s okay to feel. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to celebrate what you’ve overcome. Men, women, boys and girls. In every culture. We are all human.

Coworkers such as Dean and English Teacher, Jose Giron, continually encourages me to get out there and share my story as it will help me in my healing process and build more confidence in speaking in front of others. All of this has brought me out of my shell a bit. Lol! Let me tell you, I’m an introvert with extrovert ways. After doing presentations and learning how I’ve impacted or inspired others makes my life whole. It makes me fight harder to live. It inspires me to live to inspire.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I keep it real with my students in on-on-one settings and when I’m presenting my story in classrooms. When talking about my ups and downs in college, I talk about the pros and cons of coming from a small town to attend college in a big city like LA. I discuss how I almost flunked out of college because of bad choices on my part. I didn’t know how to balance so much freedom. I was placed on academic probation only to use that as motivation to truly find myself and realize what I wanted to do with my life. Get this! I still graduated with my BA in 4 years!

My early years of teaching was challenging because of the long days. I’d work during the day and from work I’d continue my higher education in the evenings. In between I was lesson planning, preparing for I.E.Ps.(Individual Education Plans), and grading student work. I didn’t know what I was doing when I first started teaching, lol! That’s why taking classes in the evenings for my credential and Masters was easy. I was into it! I wanted to learn! It wasn’t like my undergraduate situation. I was able to directly apply my education to my work.

Last but not least, my struggles with fighting cancer and life after cancer. Cancer changed me forever. In addition to what I’ve already discussed is the day to day life, after cancer. The regular doctor appointments, labs, tests, etc. Maintaining remission with treatment brings serious side effects. Chemo brain is real! My memory is not the same and the “brain fog” comes often. Cramps, hot flashes. and diarrhea are regular. Fatigue and body weakness is the kicker. My immune system is very weak. I have what they call brittle or soft bones, due to the cancer. It’s no joke! My mental state also took a hit. Speaking out about my story and feelings as well as writing, helps with the mental health.

I like to say I have three “homes”!

My home. My family. My everything close to me.

My place of work is my 2nd home. Where I spend a lot of my time and it’s where I love doing what I do. I love being an educator! Most of all, I love Garfield High School and the community. It’s where I’ve been inspired and it’s where I’ve “stood and delivered!”

The third is the hospital. It’s my home away from home. It’s where I “make a living”! Yes read that again. All the time I spend there plays a role in me being alive. Kaiser Permanente in Downey and Bellflower.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Fun fact: I am a poet! But wait! Not because I do a little poetic writing but because I earned a degree and graduated from Whittier College. Guess what the mascot is? A Poet. Yes we are the Whittier College Poets. Look it up, lol! So it’s official. I’m a Poet!

I am an Educator, cancer survivor, poet, and author.

I have two self-published books, and my writing has been published in various publications including an art magazine and anthologies.

I have a second book, It’s My Write. It’s a poetry collection that acts as a sample of other topics I write about. The title is my way of saying: I write what I want to write about and I write how I want to write. It’s my craft. It’s my right.

I’m most proud of my first book, Why I Cry Burgundy Tears. It was the beginning of me stepping out of my comfort zone, self-healing, and to see what it has done for others.

My words are simple, short, but powerfully speaks what others are thinking. Especially in the cancer fighting world.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
The Los Angeles Lakers!

I love Los Angeles. It is the city where I learned so much about myself. It is beautiful. It is diverse. Not just the people but diversity in all things, food, people, events, sports, cultures, and places from the beaches to the mountains and everywhere between that make LA what it is. I love the beach towns. Long Beach is my favorite. Growing up in Northern California, we’d come down to visit my uncle and I’d hear LA stories from others who frequented or lived in LA. Growing up in a small town, living in a big city was my dream. LA was a big city of dreams and good weather. Here I am, still in LA!

I don’t like the earthquakes and how everyone over reacts when it rains. Lol. I wish more can be done about the homeless situation.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.amazon.com/author/cedrikwallace
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poeticsoldier?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Colin Kaepernick photo – Melissa Juarez

Myself w/students photo – Mauricio Cristales