Finishing high school at 20 shows perseverance of RCCC student

Johnny Moser, a car hop at the Sonic Drive In on West Innes St in Salisbury works delivering food to customers. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Johnny Moser looks at family photos with his father Johnny Sr., sister Cheryle and mother Vivian. Nephew Jalyn watches from the couch. Photo by Emily Ford

Johnny Moser has tattoos on both forearms that sum up his philosophy of life: "Smile now, cry later." Photo by Emily Ford

Johnny Moser, a car hop at the Sonic Drive In on West Innes St in Salisbury delivering food to Jacqueline Chance. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Johnny Moser helps his family raise nephew Jalyn, 4, and niece Deemeka, 7. Moser wants to get married and have children some day. Photo by Emily Ford

By Emily Ford eford@salisburypost.com

When Johnny Moser walked into the principal's office at North Rowan High School three years ago, Rodney Bass didn't know what to make of his new student.

Moser had attended multiple elementary and middle schools.

He'd been held back twice.

North was his third Rowan County high school in five years.

He was 20 years old. "As a principal in that situation, you're usually thinking, 'This kid may be trouble,'" said Bass, now the principal at North Forsyth High School.

But Moser surprised Bass.

With his parents Vivian and Johnny Moser Sr. at his side, the student outlined his strategy to obtain a high school diploma.

"He had a plan on the first day," Bass said. "He said, ‘Mr. Bass, I'm here to graduate.' "

Although his family is close-knit, Moser had a difficult childhood.

He moved again and again while growing up, as bills accumulated and the family followed one minimum-wage job after another.

They were homeless for a time.

He struggles with reading comprehension and believes he has an undiagnosed learning disability. He watched people do drugs and commit crimes. He thought about dropping out of high school many times.

Despite the obstacles, despite the temptations, Moser has a clean criminal record and ringing endorsements not only from his siblings and parents, but from people who supervised him as an employee and volunteer.

And from his principal. "He sold himself to me," Bass said. Moser wasn't the first 20-year-old high school senior Bass has encountered, but he had unique determination to earn a high school diploma.

Not an Adult High School Equivalency. Not a General Education Diploma. A cap-and-gown, walk-across-the-stage, shake-the-principal's-hand high school diploma.

"That's called perseverance," Bass said, "and Johnny has as much as any student I've seen."

Now a student at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Moser is studying criminal justice. He wants to go to law school and become a prosecutor. "I wouldn't put it past him," Bass said.

• • •

Hired as a cook at Sonic when he was 16, Moser decided to learn every job at the restaurant so he could pick up extra shifts at any station. "To preserve my hours, I knew I would have to learn other positions," Moser said.

He mostly trained himself.

"What I didn't know, I asked," he said. "When the time came to where we ran out of carhops, I had to step up to the plate."

Moser taught himself to skate on his days off.

"He's a go-getter," manager Rhonda Hylton said.

He would walk to Sonic and ask the supervisor if he could practice.

Wheeling around and around the parking lot, Moser had waitresses place 44-ounce cups of water on his tray and bring him bags of ice.

He dumped 22 cups of water on himself and dropped 18 bags of ice.

You'd never know it now.

The 23-year-old zips in and out of the restaurant and around cars, confidently carrying trays loaded with food and drink while turning circles and coming to sudden stops on his skates.

Hylton has supervised Moser for four years.

Despite his struggles, Moser has been one of the most reliable employees at Sonic, she said. "He's always at the top of the list," she said. "Anytime you need him, you call him and he's there. That's pretty unusual."

Moser is the only regular male carhop at the restaurant, and his wide smile and quick service has made him a favorite with diners. "The customers love him," Hylton said. "He's just got that personality."

• • •

A prophetic dream and two deceased grandmothers help guide Moser's life.

He was 13 years old when he had what he describes as his "wake-up call."

In the dream, Moser saw two tunnels.

The one on the left showed how his life would turn out if he followed the wrong influences.

He saw himself with babies. In prison. Bruised. Dying at a young age.

The tunnel on the right showed what would happen "if I live my life right, straight," he said.

He saw a himself in a successful job. Married with children. Holding a high school diploma.

"After my dream, I did a whole 180 with my life," he said.

He began making decisions with his future in mind.

He wasn't popular but stopped trying to win friends.

Finding a way to get through school became his focus, not impressing people.

"We weren't what you would call poor, but my family was not financially stable," he said.

"I didn't have fancy rides or fancy clothes or what they used to say, the bling bling."

Moser knew how hard his parents were working to hold down steady jobs, keep the family together and pay the bills.

Sometimes, they became overwhelmed.

The family was homeless for a short period while Moser was in elementary school.

He said he doesn't remember it well.

"My parents did a phenomenal job," he said.

He credits his older brother Junior for helping raise four younger siblings while their parents worked.

His big brother nearly sacrificed his childhood, Moser said.

Moser believes his grandmothers, who both lived and died in Durham, look down on him from heaven and help him "stay on the right path."

While he does not attend church regularly, Moser said God plays a role in his life.

"I thank God every day," he said.

• • •

The middle of five children, Moser is the peace-keeper of the family. "He keeps everybody in line," his mother said. When his younger brothers got into trouble at North Rowan High School, Moser would accompany his parents to meet with Bass, the principal said.

Married for 26 years, Vivian and Johnny Moser Sr. moved their family to Salisbury in 1992 to escape violence in Durham. He's a shift manager at Bojangles' on Jake Alexander Boulevard, and she works at Hardee's in China Grove.

They were strict parents.

Moser became angry one night in 2007 when they wouldn't let him attend a party at the J.C. Price American Legion Post. The next morning, he learned that 13-year-old Treasure Feamster, a bystander, had died during a gang shooting at the party. "That could have been me," Moser said.

His parents live in a modest house near downtown Salisbury that bustles with activity even though Moser and most of his siblings live on their own. The spartan living room includes a couch and TV, and the family gathers around a small kitchen table with four mismatched chairs and a loveseat. Spices and canned goods line the mantle, and a box fan keeps air circulating.

As it does in many families, conversation often turns to food. The Mosers love to cook, and Johnny Moser's specialty is spaghetti. Cheryle Moser makes ribs that her brother can't resist. She called Moser once at midnight to say she'd just made a batch, knowing the anticipation would torture him all night. She heard a click. Twenty minutes later, he was at her door.

Sixteen months apart, Johnny and Cheryle Moser are often called "the twins." Moser helps raise his sister's son, 4-year-old Jalyn, who calls him "Uncle J." Vivian and Johnny Moser Sr. also have custody of a granddaughter from Moser's previous marriage.

Seven-year-old Deemeka lights up when Johnny Moser and his girlfriend enter the room.

Moser has been a good influence on his younger brothers, Larry and Gary, Vivian Moser said. At one point, he worked two jobs — at Sonic and IHOP — to help buy things for his brothers. "He's peaceful and caring," Vivian Moser said. "He has a big heart, and he'll give you his last if you need it.

"He's been known to do it, and he'll go without."

• • •

Regina Stansel remembers Moser as considerate and helpful.

"He had about the best manners of any young person I've ever worked with," said Stansel, manager for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where Moser completed his public service hours to graduate from high school.

During a trip to pick up donated items, Moser received a plea from work. He said he needed to finish the commitment to Habitat first, Stansel said.

The items were heavy, and the day was hot. "He wasn't going to leave me alone," she said.

Over and over, people talk about Moser helping them. His parents relied on him to help the family. His sister thinks of him as a second father for her son. His supervisors give examples of his willingness to go the extra mile.

"I'm not perfect, but I do what I can to help another person out," said Moser, who writes song lyrics to relieve stress. "I'm a strong believer in what goes around, comes around."

Even his principal counted on Moser for help.

After one semester at North Rowan, Moser had enough credits to finally graduate from high school.

His parents proudly show a photo of him in a cap and gown.

"He was determined," Johnny Moser Sr. said. "He didn't care how old he was." Moser credits Bass for the achievement, but the principal disagrees. "I may have had a role in mentoring him and talking to him, but really, for a student like that, they look in the mirror every day and decide what path they're going to take."

For Johnny Moser, it's the tunnel on the right.

Contact Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.