At 67, David Norman, has traveled a hard road. But after "two prison stints and so many arrests he's lost count", the former Harlem drug dealer donned a cap and gown last week to become a graduate of the prestigious Columbia University in New York.

While incarcerated 19 years ago, he had a moment of clarity, realizing he needed to pursue "some new behaviors." He fell in love with reading, and began guiding other inmates toward finding new meaning in their lives.

Using his experience gained as an outreach worker helping substance abusers at Mount Vernon Hospital, Norman now works in community health as a research assistant at Columbia University, and plans to write about book about how he turned his life around.

(READ his full story, w/ a video, from N.Y. Daily News)