As I began piecing my life back together, I discovered that I had a likeable personality. I am funny, vulnerable, and patient.
Growing up, I used to tell myself a lie so often it became a mantra. It was my favorite lie, and I used it to justify doing things I had no business doing. Because of the violence I witnessed, I told myself lies to excuse becoming violent, joining gangs, and committing crimes. The same lie gave me permission to become a criminal and gang member: that I was a “Son of the Slum” and a “Product of My Environment.” That excuse pushed me further and further from the truth. One day, my little brother asked me to help him get initiated into the gang I used to be a part of. In that moment, I came face to face with the truth, I was in control of my choices. My negative beliefs had once made unwanted choices feel necessary. But I made a commitment to change who I was. I sought therapy to address and unlearn the behaviors and mannerisms I had picked up on the road to becoming someone my family never raised me to be. As I began piecing my life back together, I discovered that I had a likeable personality. I am funny, vulnerable, and patient. I am someone who loves to help others and that’s exactly what I did. I encouraged my brother to join the Navy. The satisfaction I felt from replacing a negative thought with a positive one made my next decision easy. I joined the Education, Diversion, and Goals to Endeavor Program, which helps at-risk youth become aware of their goals and how to reach them. I also joined the Juvenile Diversion Program, another initiative focused on helping young people understand the power of their choices and decisions. These programs strengthened my commitment to sharing my story to help others. My goal is to help youth avoid the ripple effects and consequences of poor decisions and instead show them the positive paths they might not yet see.
