Our long time colleagues, the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) are featuring The Beat Within essay, “No Longer The Monster But I Feel Like A Fraud,” from our colleague and friend, Josue. This beautifully written, and inspirational piece is a must-read for all, especially our youth, as Josue shares his story as a youngster growing up in San Francisco to who he is today. It is certainly an honor to be working with Josue and to provide this talented teacher and writer a platform to not only share his work in the pages of The Beat Within, but today, thanks to the JJIE, on their website.
“As I write these words, I am overcome with a rush of nostalgia. Although my time at the Youth Guidance Center Juvenile Facility (YGC) in San Francisco was anything but joyful, I found solace in the streaks of graphite that marked my paper as I wrote for The Beat Within.
Growing up in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District, which was plagued by crime, drugs and alcohol, along with being raised by immigrant Spanish-speaking parents who did not fully grasp the consequences of our environment, evidently shifted my path from the American Dream they sought for me into a path of violence, depression and alcohol abuse.”
No Longer The Monster But I Feel Like A Fraud
To read other posts by The Beat Within, that have been picked up by the JJIE over the years, please go to the following link
https://jjie.org/category/ideas-and-opinions/the-beat-within/
Thank you for your continued support. Reach out anytime,
David