-John Sherwood, Correctional Facility in Pound, VA
Young princes and young queens, you are so much more than any struggle you’ve gone through. You are so much more than the difficult circumstance that you are dealing with. You got to believe in yourself. Even when people that are supposed to love and provide for you are unable to help you in the way you may need or desire them to, it doesn’t lessen your worth.
There are many people in society that are trying to help you. Most importantly, you have to help yourself! You got to admit that what you’re experiencing is not what you want for yourself. People in your own community will help you quicker when they see you are trying to better yourself.
The internet is not only for dating, sneakers, and scamming. Look up organizations that offer housing, clothing, apprenticeships, and even on-the-job training to help you learn a trade. Your future is worth investing in. Tomorrow’s you is going to be dependent on the decisions you make. It’s hard to build a better tomorrow. It’s easy to mess your life up with one negative decision.
Learn from your mistakes. Being reckless and disrespectful is not honorable. The advice you get from people in their teenage years in similar situations is not trustworthy because they do not have all the answers. Find an adult you admire and respect, and ask them questions. Remember that closed mouths do not get fed. That means nobody can help you until you express that you need help.
Hold your head up, have a desire to learn new information, and love yourself! I am praying for you. Give yourself a chance by forgiving yourself and others.
Sincerely,