Title: The Class I Feared, The Lesson I Needed

Math was the one subject that always beat me up.
I failed the placement test inside prison.
Failed it again when I got out.
Then I had to take an intensive math bootcamp and a non-credit math class before I was even allowed to attempt the real one.

It felt like I was stuck in the same loop — facing the same weakness over and over.

But I didn’t run from it this time.

I showed up.
I pushed through the frustration.
I kept going even on the days when quitting seemed easier.

When I finally made it into the credit class, I scored a 91 on my first exam. And eventually, I walked across the stage Magna Cum Laude.

That class didn’t just teach me math.
It taught me this:

I’m not the man I used to be… and I don’t have to live like he’s still in charge.

Looking back on that whole journey — the failures, the frustration, the slow grind — there’s a Bible verse that reminds me of that struggle:

Isaiah 43:18–19
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

When I read that today, it feels like God describing exactly what was happening without me even realizing it.
I was still dragging the old me into every class and every challenge…
and God was quietly trying to show me He was doing something new.

Sometimes you only recognize the miracle after you’ve walked through it.

When I was away, I read more books than I can count — easily a few hundred over those five years. I started with the Bible and rebuilt my relationship with God, then went deep into self-help and finance.

Two books hit me the hardest:

📗 Rich Dad Poor Dad
by Robert Kiyosaki & Sharon L. Lechter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Dad_Poor_Dad

📘 The Richest Man in Babylon
by George S. Clason
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Richest_Man_in_Babylon

Those books changed my mindset forever.
They taught me about discipline, assets, wisdom — and building a future instead of drifting into one.

Since then I’ve been putting those principles into practice:

And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with Bitcoin — the idea of owning something scarce, something outside the system, something you actually control. It clicked with everything I’d been learning: patience, discipline, long-term thinking, and building real assets.

I don’t talk about money because I’m rich — because I’m not.
I talk about it because I had to rebuild from nothing, and the knowledge from those books helped me do it.

If sharing what I learned helps even one person break free from the cycle, it’s worth it.

🔜 Next week: I’ll break down why Bitcoin made sense to me — and how I approach it without hype, fear, or FOMO. I’ll also share a few of my favorite assets and why they’ve earned a place in my long-term strategy.

This past week, I was sitting in the break room at BJ’s on my lunch, and I floated a rose right there at the table.
Just a napkin, a moment of curiosity, and a little bit of wonder in the middle of a long shift.

I posted the clip on YouTube if you want to see it:
👉 Click here to see video

If you check it out, hit Subscribe — every bit of support helps me grow this next chapter.

What I love about magic is how it interrupts the ordinary.
Even on a tough day, something simple can still lift your spirit for a moment.

A floating rose doesn’t change the world — but it changes the moment.
And sometimes that’s all someone needs.

New Haven has become a huge part of my story.
It’s where I went back to school.
It’s where I built CodeBreeze Solutions.
It’s where I still take the bus, float roses, meet people, and rebuild my life step by step.

I didn’t plan to land here.
But this city became the backdrop for my comeback — the classrooms, the sidewalks, the late-night shifts, the early morning buses, and the people who crossed my path.

New Haven has character, struggle, culture, grit, and hope all mixed together.
In a way, it mirrors my own journey.

And going forward, I plan on traveling around the city — restaurants, local shops, landmarks, community spots — doing magic, showcasing the establishment, and interviewing people about what New Haven means to them.
A little wonder, a little storytelling, and a chance to highlight the city that helped rebuild me.

Thanks for being part of this journey.
Every message, every view, every read means more than you know.

Wonder + Hope,
Mo Magic aka: Kevin Mohan