Category: Piece of the Week

by Daniel, Santa Clara  Loyalty is something that means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to you as well. Relationships tend to be more successful when there is honesty and loyalty.  It don’t matter what type of relationship it can be a relationship with your homie, girl, or family. Imagine having a friend that you can’t trust. I say that because there can be no loyalty without trust. I’ve been trying to figure this out.  If you can’t trust that person can you even be loyal to them? If I can’t trust you to turn

by D, Sacramento I have a deep connection to this quote. Right after reading this, I got a weird feeling in my chest. It wasn’t sadness, nervousness, or happiness. I don’t know what to call it. I think the reason for this is because I tell myself and others this every day. I always say, “You’re not gonna be here forever. Keep your head up.”  Sometimes, when I tell people this, I see a sparkle of hope in their eyes. Other times, I see deep anguish, hopelessness, like they don’t believe one single thing that I said. It’s how I

by Julian, Santa Clara I’ve gained and lost a lot being in the streets, I’ve lost my freedom, family friends, money, support, along with many other things.  Unfortunately, those are the consequences. Losing a loved one to the streets is one of the hardest things to deal with whether that means to violence, addiction, poverty, etc. I regret the things I’ve missed out due to my actions. Until this day I’m still missing out on the things like I should be there for like the birth of my child. There was a point in time where I had nothing but

by BA, San Mateo I am hoping to get out soon so I can get a job to get me some money and I’m going to keep doing my work so I can graduate here in the hall and keep doing well here so I get out soon.  I’m improving in so many ways that I thought I would never improve like I’ve improved in school and I remember I would never like school or doing work but now I like school and hopefully if I get out soon I will still go to school and graduate. If not I’ll

by Spazz, San Francisco We got to stop using guns to kill each other and use them to protect and hunt. We got to stop it by not tripping off gangs and stuff because you think that you own that block.  But, you don’t own it. It is going to be there when you are gone and thousands of years later. We need to come together and make one whole together. We got the most power people can have, but we kill each other over a number or color. You can stop it by not joining a gang and teach

by Stitch, San Mateo  I wish they know that I am a person that questions everything. I am a person with a lot of anxiety. I am a person with a huge heart. I tend to question all the little things that don’t really matter.  For example, when someone is  suddenly nice to me I ask myself, why? Then I sometimes replay that whole interaction in my head. I do my best to look for their true intentions. I am also a person that has a lot of anxiety. I get anxious easily. Sometimes when I have some type of

by BS, Sacramento Five years ago, I was twelve and I lived in a group home in San Rafael. The group home was called St. Vincent School for Boys. It was a level fourteen at the time, and there were five different houses next to each other. They had a basketball court outside, down the hill. It had four different hoops. I used to play basketball all day, even if it was raining.  They also had a track field with an oval shape grass area in the middle. They also had a horse program, and I had a job, and

by SP, San Mateo The last time I said sorry to my mom was last Sunday. I felt I had to sorry because she was mad at me because I felt it was right in the situation and I always just say sorry.  I always feel bad and sorry for making my mom’s life harder, even though she goes through so much without me stressing her out more and causing her pain. There have been times when I said sorry but didn’t mean it. I only said it to please my mom and try to make her happy, instead of

by Chasing, Miles City, Montana I’m chasing my dreamsI’m chasing my goalsI’m chasing my heartI’m chasing my soulI walk beside youAnd ponder my fearsThis life isn’t overBut the end is still nearI’m in the darknessBut I see the lightMy soul is fragileBut it’s shining brightAnd when it’s morningI think it’s nightThis is the systemThe way of life.

by Curry, San Francisco For me, the American dream is being from another country or having roots from a different country and being in America and becoming successful. Success can have plenty of different definitions for different people.  In my eyes, the success is coming here for a new start and prospering in life by obtaining a good job that you are content with that gives you the opportunity to take care of yourself and your family, and give you the freedom to do what you want in life. For my family, fortunately they were able to experience that “American