Category: Piece of the Week

-Efrain, San Mateo My proudest accomplishment has to be learning how to learn from my mistakes. Even right now, I’m taking every loss as a lesson instead of letting it get to me and letting it make me feel worse. Even in situations like this, I’ve got to learn to not let things get to me.  Even if the situation is big or small, I know eventually I’ll go home. Even if it isn’t anytime soon, I’ll use this to endure and hopefully not go back to what I used to do, because I don’t want to end up dead

-Mardell, San Bernardino Change is one of the most mandatory aspects of life. With change comes growth and new experiences, even if these new changes come off as scary or terrifying.  They need to happen for our character, our lives, our relationships. Change can be beautiful — things like flowers, caterpillars, nature in general. Without change, we wouldn’t see these beautiful things. Change is wonderful, terrifying, and necessary.  If we do not change, we do not grow. 

by Londell, San Francisco This is a breakdown of 2023. This past year I learned about accomplishing things and doing better things. This year I experienced some things that are not healthy and some that are. It’s difficult looking back on 2023 because it was a better year than the one that just started.  The start of my 2024 is kind of going bad. It’s bad because I can’t go home. When I look back on 2023 the biggest lesson I learned was not to come to jail, but I still came. It’s important to reflect on what we have

by SB, Sacramento  “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” -Lord Byron When they say, “Always laugh when you can,” it’s true because I have a cousin at the age of twelve who had surgery. He lost both his legs and all his fingers. He was depressed because he knew that he wouldn’t be able to do the stuff that he wanted to do.  Before the surgery, he was playing flag football. He didn’t like the fact that his friends were still having fun and he wasn’t. His friends stopped being friends with him for the fact he

by Ziggy, San Mateo Looking back to the biggest lesson I learned in 2023, it’d most definitely have to be to never give up on something, even when the chances of success are little to none.  I learned this lesson when I was in school and I had four days to raise my grades from all “B’s” to all “A’s,” so I could give my graduation speech and receive my award for being valedictorian. There was very little chance for changes with there being so little time left. But I used it as motivation to get my assignments turned in. 

by Sonny, San Francisco I take care of myself by making sure I eat and keep up with my hygiene, like brushing my teeth and showering every day. I also make sure my bed is comfortable since I’m in juvenile hall. I have three mattresses and a lot of blankets.  I remember when I ran from a group home and had to be on my own for two weeks. I went to my friend’s house to take a shower and brush my teeth. I had my mom send me money and I was using my money smart by buying what

by ER, Stanislaus Some things in life aren’t always easy to accept. Maybe it’s guilt. You might be ashamed or maybe you don’t want to believe that this is reality. But everybody needs a reality check or an eye-opener. I’m ER, I’m currently in juvenile hall, Stanislaus County. It’s been about a week and I still have seventeen more days until my next court date. Not sure if I’ll even make it out. Hopefully a placement is found for me. That’s the only way I’ll have a chance to make it out.  My poor decisions are making it hard for

by Marlon, San Francisco Freedom isn’t being incarcerated in any prison, jail or j-hall and having a scheduled plan for you every day. Also, it’s not being told how you have to dress and act towards others.  Also, it’s not being watched daily by even people you don’t like or get along with on a daily basis. You might even run into people from your past that you might not get along with or just want problems with just to get clout or have their homies mess with them more as a person, trying to gain respect or possibly anything

by LH, Sacramento “Happy holidays,” they sayNothing seems happy when you are far awayI take the time out of my day to let you know that I own up to my mistakes.Kings and queens in a castle like a game of speed Running out of time, damn I wish I had my teamMy mom, the greatest person, but damn, her criticism is meanI know she means well so I don’t blame her, I blame me If only I would have chosen a different route I would be with my king in a castle all aloneWondering why his mommy can’t be,Be with him, be the

by M, San Francisco  What motivates me every day is my baby mama and my newborn child on the way. The reason why that motivates me is because I want to prove to those who doubt me and don’t believe in me every day.  I also wanna be able to prove to my whole family or at least those who still care, and that are there, but I’m going to be the best father for my child, and be possibly better than my father has been in my personal childhood. For example, being in this position really had me think