I was born on March 13th, 2000. My family is very big, but growing up it looked very small because I only spoke to my household and family members that lived across the street. I was raised with my sister and we’ve always had each other’s back. As the oldest, I felt the need to mature faster. Our mother was in and out of our lives which caused my sister and I to end up living with other family members such as my grandmother.
My past school experiences usually involved conflict. I did well in elementary and middle school but a big shift occurred in the eighth grade when I transferred from Catholic school to public school. This transition decreased my motivation academically and I started to hang out with the wrong crew.
I enrolled in Truman High School and went in taking it seriously but due to the environment I ended up leaving. Two months into freshman year, I got jumped and within school I had no guidance from teachers who weren’t willing to provide assistance. Afterwards I tried an alternative school but felt they did not have my best interest in mind. Taking all this into consideration, up until I was 17 years old, I decided to create my own free time and have the fun I was not able to while growing up.
After leaving school I started to feel lost and started looking for a job. During the end of 2018, I met my girlfriend who is also a young mother. We took a break to work on ourselves and during this time I attempted to obtain my High School Equivalency by attending a Bronx-based program but did not enjoy the environment.
I reconnected with my girlfriend and questioned what I had to offer. I received an email one day and it contained a link that sent me to Youth Action YouthBuild. The opportunity that stood out the most was the ability to get my HSE and I became more drawn to the program since I could gain credentials in a field I was interested in, construction.
Before starting YAYB, I had doubts because I thought this would be another program I’d end up dropping. During the process, I was slacking off a bit because I had to watch my step son and when I brought this to YAYB’s attention, they accommodated and allowed me to bring him with me. Within a few months I was able to get me construction credentials followed by my HSE certification.
For many years I had this weight on my shoulders regarding not having my HSE. It feels good to be where I’m at right now and know my path doesn’t end here. After I’m done, I know to take with me what I developed here such as leadership qualities, hard work, and motivation…something I never had.
I’m looking forward to having a career I can potentially grow and improve in.