Speak Up

by Young A, Albuquerque, New Mexico

“You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. But you remember that when you are in those rooms, you are not alone. We are all in that room with you applauding you on. Cheering your voice. And just so proud of you. So you use that voice and be strong.” – Kamala Harris

It is important to have a voice and speak up because that’s all you have. My story started as a youngling. Ever since a kid I knew what my pops and mom were in to. A lot of people say I act a lot older than my age and I believe it is because I experienced a lot more adult problems while they were children who still had their innocence. 

My mom tried to guard me from that life but at a young age you are curious and soak a lot of stuff up like a sponge. My pops left and with that so did the money, so I, my mom and four brothers moved into a motel, living off of TV dinners and cereal with water instead of milk. 

Then all of a sudden my mom got a job and in a week she bought a whip and a house which I was grateful for. Before that we had to take the city bus to our elementary. My mom told me go to school and I tried that while my mom was trying to maintain and it worked till I got to high school. I was surrounded by a bunch of wannabes who thought they was gangster but came from homes that were nice and had both parents. 

Then I started getting mixed up with the wrong people and was broke. Then I hit my first business opportunity and felt good to have money in my pockets so I kept doing it and two years later I was balling, feeling invincible because I kept my safety with me. 

I had to violate against someone who shot my crib up and got locked up. Now I turned a happy family into a broken one and regret it, but I am going to take my consequences like a man. I agree with this quote.