JROTC teacher at Trinity High School, Dr. Major Erek Clacks, published his first book, “Have The Courage To Try: Overcome Adversity and Achieve Your Goal,” this past January. Clacks’ book outlines how to achieve your goals and envision each step toward reaching that goal.

In writing and publishing this book, Clacks wanted to give inspiration and encourage people to “overcome obstacles in life” and “make the impossible possible.” 

In his book, he expresses the struggles he faced as a Black male in America. 

Clacks specifies, however, “I never considered myself a victim or someone who was entitled to anything. All I desired was to be recognized as a human being and have the chance to shape my destiny.”

The book contains autobiographical content as well as interactive areas to sketch in one’s own goals and to complete activities such as the “thirty-day challenge” that requires the reader to set time aside every day of the month to progress toward their goal.

He says, “I wanted to share my message of hope, possibility and encouragement to the world.”

After detailing the tremendous feedback in response to his book, Clacks reveals that the idea of him writing and publishing such a work would have been unfathomable to his high school self. However, while he did not enjoy writing in English class, he has written and kept journals since high school and has multiple volumes containing his thoughts, goals and words of wisdom he wishes for his descendants to cherish.

Clacks’ writing process consisted of a few hours of work everyday, with most of the writing happening over the course of the weekends. The most difficult part of his writing process was revising it. He recalls that his original manuscript was 250 pages long, while his final product was 102 pages. 

This tedious procedure, however, highlighted a message from his book: “When you have a goal in mind, you will find time to get things done.”

Clacks’ favorite part of the process was finally getting the message out that many people had asked him about over the years. His book explains how he was able to accomplish so much in his life, such as being a leader, a military veteran, an educator, a motivational speaker, and now a bestselling author. 

Clacks plans to expand upon this list of accomplishments and already has three more books in mind for the future. 

“Have The Courage To Try: Overcome Adversity and Achieve Your Goal” spreads Clacks’ message to every person willing to grow and prosper as their best self. It is available on Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble’s website in paperback, hardcover and Kindle/Nook.

To find the book on Amazon, click here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q2R85JY

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/have-the-courage-to-try-ed-andrew/1140893881