Category: Piece of the Week

by AD When I was growing up in Antioch I thought I had my life figured out I was just a kid in the ghetto Playing football and going to school Until at seven I got sent to a foster home That’s when my life started to change I started building up anger and depression I was with my foster parents for two years Then I went home thinking it was ok But I started acting up in school, at home, and in the neighborhood The at the age of nine I got sent to another foster home This time

by Im People don’t understand why I am a felon. It’s because of my past, how I grew up, my environment, childhood problems, which led to gangs and being out in the streets and not being home. At home, there was always arguing and commotion going on. Never stopping, always going on. People just think I could be doing better, that I have a lot of potential, but they don’t understand where I come from. I do have a lot of potential for the things I believe in, which is the movement of my people on the streets. I believe

by Hayden Coming to terms with fate is a difficult task. With it comes a sense of hopelessness—that fate cannot be changed. Succumbing to fate is an even more intense mental battle. Stubborn people don’t succumb easily. I guess I’m one of those people. I will not stop fighting with Arizona, even if I fall. I can’t prescribe an easy solution to my own issues, so I have no choice but to fight. There are too many lives at stake. I can’t stand by and watch people suffer, especially youth. Defeat can’t stop me from living for the movement for

by O Dear Juvenile Hall, Thank you for teaching me how To appreciate the little things Being locked up really got me thinking ‘Bout how I take my freedom for granted. You taught me how lonely I would be Without my friends or family. You showed Me how lucky I was to be able to wear My own clothes and eat home-cooked Meals. Thank you for showing me how Lovely my life is. After I’m out of here, I’ll never make the mistake of coming Back again. BELIEVE THAT!

by Brandon Growing up I was raised by my dad and my grandma. My mom left my sister and I at a very young age. I think my dad has prepared me well for adulthood because he has helped me learn many things from his mistakes. He always tried to look out for me and lead me down the right path. He was always supportive of my decisions but also made sure I was careful about choosing my decisions. I think that it is very important for an adult that teaches you how to adapt to adulthood to be supportive. Furthermore,

by Hayden Today is February 7th, 2018. Every day that passes me by is like a silent scream for help emanating from my heart. I’m counting down the days to an unknown deadline. I don’t know when I will be free. I feel angry at the system, the prosecutors and judges for keeping me locked up without a warrant or charges. Fighting an impervious system is tiring in so many ways. It reminds me of fighting with my father when I still lived with my family. I’m tired of the constant pain tugging at the essence of my being. As

by Hayden An Excerpt from Dear Society Whose right is it to subject those under their power to abuse with the sole purpose of establishing dominance? Fathers? De nitely not. Sadly, this occurs often in our broken world. Abuse is a dif cult yoke to bear. It festers into an obscene picture, often hidden by its perpetrator. If left unhandled, trauma from abuse can cause people to treat their past as a curse. They may nd themselves unable to function without blaming their upbringing as an excuse for failure. Being a stubborn person, I’d rather use my past as a reason

by De They look at me and wonder, is he all the way there? They can’t understand me so they sit there and stare They listen to your story, make it seem like they care But then write you up for some shhh that ain’t fair Sometimes I give up and gotta catch myself Stand up like a man and adjust myself I ain’t even gonna worry, not gonna stress myself I’ll make it out of here so I could bless myself The ones you thought would accompany you always Could switch up so fast, you wouldn’t know they’re gone

by Young One The greatest challenge I have to deal with is anxiety. My anxiety keeps me up at night and worrying all day. I haven’t found anything to help my anxiety except sports. But as soon as that’s over, it comes right back. When I suffer from my anxiety, I get anxious and it’s hard for me to function. I try not to cry and stay strong, but at nighttime I tend to cry and struggle in the sense that I’m by myself and no one can see me at a weak point. And when something big comes up,

by Marwin I open my eyes, mostly to blink away the tears. My gaze falls upon a pile of a fabric at the end of my bed. Under a thick layer of dust there are multiple patterns and colors. My blankets. They come in and out of focus as I think about my past, the things I’ve done, who I am. If I’m honest with myself, I can see why people say I’m arrogant and selfsh and proud. I can see why people say I’m cold, I’m hard and I’m only interested in winning. Maybe I deserve this. Maybe I