“I had my daddy until I was 7 or 8, but when my parents broke up, the house just went downhill. I used to be the kid who sat in the front row, who had his pants pulled up, but I started letting peer pressure get to me in elementary school. I didn’t want to be called names or for people to think that I thought I was better than them, so I started doing little stuff just to fit in. Then I went on to bigger stuff in middle school. I was skipping classes --- knowing my mama and my daddy would whip my butt --- and I started smoking weed. When I was in high school, I just went full throttle. I did a lot of things I regret now, like robbery, kicking in doors, breaking in houses, burglary. I was drinking, popping pills, doing this and that, getting locked up, spending time behind bars. Growing up, where I’m from, I've been through it all. There were some things I didn’t have to do, but I wanted to prove a point. I wanted to show my peers that I could do what they couldn't. I didn’t know my place in the world, my purpose. I felt like nobody loved me.
“I became a father when I was 18. I was there when my little girl was born; I cut the umbilical cord. I was immature and too young, but she’s a big part of the reason I decided I had to make a change in my life. I was doing the same things over and over and getting the same results; God brought it to my attention that I needed to do something different. I didn’t want to be in jail and away from my family. My daughter is six now and she’s so smart; she can see the changes in me already. I’ll graduate from a career and personal development program next week, and I expect to get my GED within the next six months. I’ll really be proud of myself when that happens.
“Some things I want to pass on to my daughter are: Don’t let peer pressure get to you. You came into this world by yourself. You’ll go out the same way. And obey the law. Do right.
“I used to look up to people who were leading me in the wrong direction, who didn't want to learn or change, but not anymore. My role model is God now. He knows that I’m not perfect, but he’s the one I look to. He's teaching me that I'm here for a reason, and that reason is to do good in the world, to give back."
“I became a father when I was 18. I was there when my little girl was born; I cut the umbilical cord. I was immature and too young, but she’s a big part of the reason I decided I had to make a change in my life. I was doing the same things over and over and getting the same results; God brought it to my attention that I needed to do something different. I didn’t want to be in jail and away from my family. My daughter is six now and she’s so smart; she can see the changes in me already. I’ll graduate from a career and personal development program next week, and I expect to get my GED within the next six months. I’ll really be proud of myself when that happens.
“Some things I want to pass on to my daughter are: Don’t let peer pressure get to you. You came into this world by yourself. You’ll go out the same way. And obey the law. Do right.
“I used to look up to people who were leading me in the wrong direction, who didn't want to learn or change, but not anymore. My role model is God now. He knows that I’m not perfect, but he’s the one I look to. He's teaching me that I'm here for a reason, and that reason is to do good in the world, to give back."
HopeWorks, 1930 Union Avenue
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