Jillip Naysinthe Paxson and Greg Forbes Siegman The First Thirty

The First Thirty, by Jillip Naysinthe Paxson and Greg Forbes Siegmanis, is the story of Greg Forbes Siegman, a seemingly normal guy like you and me that learned the importance of community service at a young age and remains resolutely dedicated to the cause. The story represents not only the first thirty years of his life, but also the thirty lessons he learned while living them. It illustrates the ups and downs and eventual success of a life filled with both tribulations and blessings. Ultimately The First Thirty delivers a strong, positive message that is particularly relevant to high school students but is valuable to everyone.

The book is set in the Tempo Caf in Chicago where Greg Forbes Siegman sits down one night to tell an old friend, Jillip Naysinthe Paxson, the story of his life. As the book progresses, the role of the narrator becomes ambiguous as his voice and Greg's voice become one. The story begins with the birth of Greg and he spends his early years consumed by his best friends (some playground equipment) that later gain significance in his work in the community. He is a strange, preoccupied child with few friends and even the cover of the book proclaims: "The story of a boy so distracted by his dreams that he had to wear a helmet." From this rocky beginning, however, Greg begins to devote his life to a good cause at the age of six, and he goes on to be successful in school academically, socially, and athletically.

This seeming fairytale story is brought back to reality by a number of factors-first one of Greg's friends dies and then he is rejected by all of the Ivy League Universities he applies to. Feeling he has been wronged, Greg takes on the world little by little by excelling in school, substitute teaching, and trying to break down stereotypes and barriers through his 'Brunch Bunch.' These achievements culminate in the creation of a non-profit, the 11-10-02 Foundation, named after Greg's thirtieth birthday. But the real story is not about Greg's achievements; it's about the path that he took to accomplish them, and about all of the roadblocks that he ran into on the way. The tale is refreshing in its honesty - Greg is not afraid to take cheap shots at himself or to genuinely illustrate his faults. He is truly a character-a 29 year old man that walks into a formal event with pajamas, mismatching socks, a lunchbox, and is always drinking a milkshake. Perhaps most importantly Greg shows that he could never be where he is today without help-whether it is from his close friends, from high school student volunteers, or from his grandma.

The First Thirty is an uplifting true story that reminds us that the all the movie-caliber underdog stories we see don't always have to be make-believe. And students of any age can learn the most important lesson of all-that with hard work and determination, anything can be achieved.