Friend

1. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?

The  most influential person in my life would have to be my mom because she had to play both roles while raising my older sister and I. She came into this country as a hardworking immigrant not knowing how to speak any English, yet she's worked two jobs till this day just to make ends meet and put food on the table and the clothes on my back. She has an incredible work ethic and that is something you cannot teach. I am truly grateful that she's my mother.

2. What is the last thing you read, heard, saw or encountered that made you reconsider your values or beliefs? Describe that moment and what you thought.

I remember the time when I was in the 11th grade, I stayed behind to talk to my teacher Mr. Morales about a paper that was due. I don't recall how, but we somehow got to discussing the pros and cons of growing up in South Central. He told me something that I'll never forget. He said," Do not think of growing up in South Central as a disadvantage, you're already at the bottom so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Think of it as an opportunity to build yourself up from nothing and pass what you have built on to future generations". I'm truly inspired by his philosophy.

3. What or who is the most important thing in your life and why?

The most important thing in my life is family. When I say family I also mean friends because y'all basically family to me. we act like a family, take care of each other like a family and support one another like family. Without my family I'd be so lost, but I believe that I'm truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. Y'all let me know when I'm fucking up while others just stand by and watch what happens next. I know that I'll always be able to count on y'all.

Friend

1. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?

I'd have to say my mom because she's always inspired me to do better and be the best that I can be, even if my job was being a bag-boy for a supermarket she'd tell me," you'd better be the best fucking bag-boy there is". She's always motivated me to strive for higher goals. Yeah she sometimes puts me under a lot of pressure but I know she does it only because she didn't have anyone to support her and her dreams. I understand that she wants what's best for me and I made her a promise that when I make it out this hood, best believe I'm taking you with me. That's my momma.

2, What is the last thing you read, heard, saw or encountered that made you reconsider your values or beliefs? Describe that moment and what you thought.

Something that I read that made me reconsider my beliefs was "The Great Gatsby" by Scott F. Fitzgerald. Upon finishing the fascinating novel I realized that things are not always what they seemed to be. I took this thought and applied it to the police that "Serve" my neighborhood. You see, I always thought that policemen were supposed to protect and serve our community as well as make the residents feel safe. That's just it, I've never once felt safe being around the police. I've always felt threatened and discriminated. I can recall back to the time I watched my 16 year-old cousin being dropped and aggressively arrested because he lived on a certain block that was run by the drug cartel. He was sent to the hospital with a spinal cord injury. The drop he endured was so severe that the policemen fractured his vertebrae leaving him paralyzed from the lower back down to his feet. He never walked again after. I remember my family crying harshly over the incident and could not believe how expensive the medical bill was. The police took away my cousins ability to walk and left his family drowning in debt from the medical bills, yet they wonder why we scream "Fuck the Police".

3. What or who is the most important thing in your life and why?

I believe that family and my boys are the most important in my life. You guys come first no matter what. I really enjoy the memories that we've made so far and cannot wait for more to come. My family and my friends are my motivators. Y'all shown me love that only a family can show, that's why I've got mad love for all of you. Y'all was there for me in my times of need, so you know I'm going to take ya'll with me when I succeed.