Category: Life Stories

by CD, Sacramento Now, music is a second language to me. It brings my other half. One half loves to sing the songs and write them but the other, loves any song she can dance to. She escapes from reality with music.  Let me introduce you to my first half. She’s a very intelligent and unique girl who loves making music, mostly raps, but she also loves singing. The music she makes allows her to be free. It allows her to express herself and get things off her mind.  She puts words on papers or the notes in her phone

by Faith, San Mateo To forgive can be very different to a lot of people. Someone can forgive but still feel angry or bad about the situation, and someone can forgive and let go of the situation. For different people forgiving can be difficult, and sometimes, they will debate on forgiving, but for other people it seems like it comes naturally, and they don’t mind forgiving. To me forgiving is to kind of stop holding a grudge or to let go in some situations, and in some way. I don’t forgive people often cause sometimes I be stubborn. There is

by Adonte, San Mateo One thing about me, I like being honest. I like to show my love to the ones I care about and I’m a very hardworking person. I take care of my family and take care of a lot of things. With my confidence, I am meant to be a strong person. I feel I’m meant to be a breadwinner. I feel like I matter even more because I’m still alive. It’s a lot of young Black people who died at this age of 18.  The places I have been: Oakland, Stockton, Lodi, San Mateo, Vallejo, Fairfield,

by AF, Sacramento Humans. A bipedal primate mammal also known as Homo Sapiens. They are born into this world only to age and die later.  While they are walking the earth, they can choose to repopulate and have kids. These kids will grow up and then be the next to wither and die. It’s a non-stop cycle of life.  Knowledge has been passed down from generation to the next generation. Starting with who knows what or who, we have evolved. “We” went from Ancient Egypt to modern technology in the blink of an eye.  We have created weapons that contain

by AL, San Mateo  When I was in the 4th grade I had went on a field trip to the Oakland Zoo. The year before in 3rd grade, I couldn’t go because of my absurd behavior. Surprisingly I was actually able to go this time and it had actually turned out to be a fun experience.  My day had started like any other, I had woke up around 7:30 in the morning and started getting ready. I showered quickly and brushed my teeth and then got dressed and was out the door on my way to school. It normally took

by Cam, Santa Clara I know I been in and out of the hall. But sometimes I got to make poor decisions. I didn’t choose to live the “life of a criminal.” This life chose me. I know it sounds like I’m blaming something else for my decisions, but it’s true.  Some staff in the hall say that I been through some very hard stuff that a normal person would of killed themselves going through the same thing I did, from twelve years old all the way to now. I try to help my mom out with rent. I didn’t

by JB, San Mateo  Everyone who knows me calls me JB. Let me tell you about how my life has been for my sixteen years that I’ve been alive. It’s crazy how young I am and all the experiences and struggles I’ve been through.  I’m Salvadorian and Guatemalan. I was born at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA., but I’ve lived all over the place. I honestly move every year to different houses and apartments.  I’m currently located up at Hillcrest (juvenile) in San Mateo for my third time and my last because I’ve got to learn how you

by Marlon, San Mateo Celebrating the dead over the living. November 25, I remember the sound of loud arguing vividly, one voice from someone very close to me and another voice from a stranger, the argument went on for a long time. I remember sitting there watching and feeling bored.  My big cousin had just stole some man’s belongings. Him and this grown man had began, both getting very heated.  “Give me my shhh back, lil bro!” said this grown man. My cousin responded with an evil smirk, as he replied “nah, screw you” and just like that I wasn’t

by Bobby Bostic Currently there are over 2,500 juveniles (anyone who was under the age of 18 years old when they committed their crime) serving a sentence of life without parole for homicide in the Unites States. (“Rest of Their Lives”) In addition to this there is three thousand more serving de facto life without parole sentences (a sentence of many decades in prison beyond the juvenile’s life expectancy) for violent crimes that did not involve murder. (Graham v Florida) Before I express my viewpoint on this issue I want to ask the readers a question. Do you feel that juveniles who commit heinous