Category: Piece of the Week

by Montana, San Francisco A funny moment for me would be coming to jail because no matter how much I try I always end up in jail. I know it’s a blessing in disguise to keep me alive and just be thankful to still be here and not be dead.  Even though I’m in jail right now, it could always be worse. So, you just have to be thankful for all the little things and never be ungrateful. Never be in denial to things that are keeping you safe and alive.  I don’t know how to be more aware of

by ISC, Santa Clara “Difficult” is the one word I would use to describe my childhood. Growing up was difficult. It honestly was difficult for anybody growing up in the system. It was bad all until I started looking at life a different way.  The system was a different type of bad. You can make being in the system not bad by making good memories. I’ve had some good times but honestly being here is mostly not good.  Growing up was hard, especially my childhood. Even though you try to make the best of it, the people and things around

by JV, Sacramento The man that inspires me the most, to be honest, is one that struggled, preserved, and overcame. This man was publicly shamed, shut down, and rejected by society. But this man never gave up. He went on to be remembered as one of the greatest composers in history, his name was Sergei Rachmaninoff.  Rachmaninoff was born into a family of musicians. It soon became clear that he was especially talented. At a very young age, he was sent to a prestigious Russian music school known as a conservatory. He was to be taught by the best pianists

by Lil Los, James Ranch, Santa Clara From the moment I Ianded on earth I can’t remember anything from before I was a four year old, but I can tell you everything after that age. I was in the mix of so much stuff. I feel like I was never able to be a child. As a young child, I was four, I seen my own mother physically attacked by my father. I was confused and scared. I didn’t know what to do or how to help.  At five years old the cops kicked in the door and took my

by LL, Sacramento  What “trust your power” means to me, is to trust the intelligence you have. When I hear “trust your power”, I think of it as words of wisdom. Many people in the world have different capabilities and don’t use them to their fullest. Trusting your power is like trusting yourself in some sort.  We get put in situations we don’t want to be in every day. We make changes by the mind. Everything we do is a power. Waking up, eating, walking, talking. It’s all a power. You just gotta trust it.  For example, let’s say you

 D’ercey, San Francisco  Before I came to jail, I was out doing bad. I was gon’ keep doing the same thing ‘till I came here. I learned my lesson I swear this time. I learned because life is short, I got a lot to lose. I swear I love my family and if something was to happen to them, I would be hurt, so that’s why I am changing my life. When I get out of here, I will change.  Everybody ain’t your friend. Somebody might want to be your friend but is really trying to use you. That’s why

by Gio, San Mateo  A sign I got in my life that was trying to prevent me from going the wrong way, was the day I came in. Man, let me tell you the whole day I was planning on just chilling at home. I really wasn’t feeling like going out that whole day, until someone I knew hit me up.  At first, he was like let’s kick it and smoke or something and I told him no, I am just chilling at home for the day. I’m not trying to kick it. Then, he told me he had something

by Zayy, San Mateo One person who motivates me the most is my mother because every day I wake up, I think of things she tells me on a day-by-day basis. Most things my mom tells me stay in my head and is useful.  When I was younger, I used to think she would tell me things to pick on me, but as I grew older, she made me realize all the things she was saying would help me in the real world. She’s telling me because she most likely has been through it already and she doesn’t want me

by Jesus, Sonoma I have two motivators in my life. One is my mother and two, my older brother. My mother has always worked while pregnant and dealt with my dad while he worked, being an alcoholic and putting my mother through hell.  After my mother had my older brother, she went right back to working. Five years later I was born. My older brother learned and stepped up to take care of me while both dad and mom worked.  Then, 1 ½ years later, my little brother was born. My mom still kept working and my older brother still

by Rashad, San Diego I would describe my heart as emotionally damaged from all the losses and trials and tribulations I had to go through at such a young age. I have had many broken hearts for many different reasons.  From a female to family betrayal, to losing someone close to me and that I care about. I have also had a lonely heart growing up by myself. For so long, I felt I had no one but the few homies who were looking out for me. But eventually they ended up switching on me too.   It only happened