I’ve never taken the traditional road to anything in my life, and my education is no different. Most students go from high school to college with parents cheering them on. Me? Both of my parents were meth addicts. As far back as I remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. My aunt did, and she was the kindest, softest soul I ever knew—but she died when I was thirteen. After that, everything changed. I was sent to live with my dad, fresh out of prison. He wasn’t a father; he was a dictator. I caught a whoopin’ for just about anything. So I ran away. That was the first of many decisions that put me on a path far from a classroom. I bounced between chaos and survival. When I landed at my mom’s house, things weren’t much better, but at least I found people who took me in. They jumped me into their gang, handed me a gun, an ounce of meth, and told me to bring back $800. I brought back triple. And that fast money felt like the love and approval I’d been starving for. I tried the drug everyone around me seemed addicted to—including my parents. And by fifteen, I was fully hooked. At eighteen, I was on my way to prison. Prison didn’t break me—it exposed me. I arrived at Chino, my enemies’ headquarters, the only active member of my organization inside that yard. The odds of surviving were low. I knew the only safe place was the hole, so I fought the first person I saw. I remember the sound more than the pain—my ears ringing after being hit with a block gun. Then looking at the ground and seeing my teeth on the floor. That was the moment I realized how thin the line between living and dying really is. Three and a half years later, I walked out—but I didn’t walk away from addiction. I fell deeper: meth, heroin, anything to keep me numb. I finally hit rock bottom and entered a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home, where I gave my life to God. I graduated, got married, moved states, and then fell again—me and my wife both drowning in the same darkness. When she left with my daughter, it crushed me. I hit another bottom I didn’t think I’d survive. But my pastor sent me a Greyhound ticket back home. I went back into the Recovery Home and graduated again. That’s when I learned that sometimes perseverance isn’t one big moment—it’s choosing to get back up again and again even when shame tells you to stay down. My biggest act of compassion—and maybe the hardest thing I’ve ever done—was filing for custody of my daughter, Corazón. Her mother didn’t want to get clean, and I couldn’t watch another child grow up the way I did. God put strength in me I didn’t know I had, and today I have full custody. I work full time, I serve full time in my church, and every day I try to be the safe place I never had growing up. If there’s one moment that shaped me, it wasn’t the violence or the drugs or even losing my teeth on that prison yard—it was the moment I realized my daughter was watching me. That everything I chose would someday teach her what love is, what responsibility is, and what faith looks like when life gets ugly. That moment pushed me toward the man I’m becoming. It showed me I wasn’t meant to repeat the cycle; I was meant to break it. That’s why I’ve become so invested in others, especially the youth. I know firsthand how a kid can get swallowed up by the streets simply because no one gave them another option. If someone had handed younger me a studio instead of a gun, maybe my story would’ve gone differently. That’s why pursuing music production means more to me than a degree—it’s a mission. I want to open a studio for kids who can’t afford studio time, a place where creativity is louder than their circumstances. I’m a non-traditional student because life pushed me into survival mode before I ever had the chance to think about school. But everything I’ve been through—addiction, prison, recovery, fatherhood, faith—has shaped me into someone who doesn’t quit, who knows how to fight for others, and who believes deeply in second chances. I’m not the typical student, but I am someone who knows how to get back up, who knows how to love hard, and who knows that resilience and generosity can rewrite any story—even the one you were born into.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

I Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. He was reloading the block gun after the first one hit me directly in the mouth. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. Adversity has been with me since as far back as I can remember. And as far back as I remember it’s never been more than I can handle. God has always shown me a way out. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator and apparently everything deserved a beating. So I ran away and went I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. My biggest mistake was trying my product. I got hooked. I was addicted to by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I fought the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to open up a studio for the youth that can’t afford studio time. I believe if I had an avenue like this to choose from I may have made different decisions growing up.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to provide a better life for my daughter than what I had growing up. Music gave me an outlet that I looked for with drugs. Id like to use music to help others out of that darkness.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to provide a better life for my daughter than what I had growing up. Music gave me an outlet that I looked for with drugs. Id like to use music to help others out of that darkness.

Success to me is not being rich and famous. Success is making it through your last trial or hardship. Some trials and hardships may have been worse than others but EVERYONE has been something that they felt they weren’t going to make it through…but they did. But I can only speak from MY experiences. Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator. And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to provide a better life for my daughter than what I had growing up. But not just MY daughter! Music gave me an outlet that I tried to find with drugs. And I believe there is serious talent out there just wasting their lives away on drugs that just haven’t found an outlet. I want to offer them one.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the kindest, most gentle person ever. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad who just got out of prison. He wasn’t really a father as he was a dictator And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. I went to my mom’s. From here on I never went without headphones. Music took me away. My mom’s wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in their gang, gave me a gun, an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 800”. I made triple what they expected. And it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff and why my parents chose it over me. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. By 18 I was on my way to prison. For some reason, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving were very slim. I had to find a way to the hole. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. 3.5 years later I get out and go right back to the same thing. Addiction. But this time meth and herion and eventually hit rock bottom. I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I graduated and met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, have a full-time job and serve full time in my local church. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset now is to provide a better life for my daughter than what I had growing up. I didn’t know God as a child or young adult but right now I do, and right now is when I am putting all my faith that the Lord will make a way.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did. My aunt was the greatest woman you would’ve ever met. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent back with my dad who just got out of prison. Let’s just say father he was not. More like dictator. And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything I could think of. So I made a choice and ran away to my real mother’s house. And this is where the craziness starts. From here on I never went without headphones in. I had to have music to take my mind away because my moms wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They gave me a gun and an ounce of meth. They said “go sell this and bring back this much and you keep the rest”. I made triple what they expected. And coming from the neighborhood with nothing, it felt really good to have a pocket full of money. I was hooked. By 14, I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff. What does it do to them? So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. Needless to say, by 18 I was on my way to prison. And still being the big, bad gangbanger that I thought I was, I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving if I stayed there were very slim. So I had to find a way to the hole for a single-man cell safety. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I feel like I’m drooling, so I look down, and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. I get out of prison and went right back to the same thing. Addicted. For four more years. But this time I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. So I went. And I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I now currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, and have a full-time job. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I applied for Full Sail University because I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production. My mindset is I n bettering my life so my daughter doesn’t have to grow up like I did. I apologize if I didn’t write this correctly. I haven’t wrote too many essays in my life. Thank you for your time.

Both of my parents were meth addicts. And as far as I can remember, neither one of them wanted to take care of me. So my aunt did and she was the greatest person I ever met. But she died when I was 13, and I was sent with my dad, fresh out of prison. Let’s just say father he was not. And I’d catch a whoopin’ for just about everything. So I made a choice and ran away. And this is where the craziness starts. From here on I never went without headphones. I had to have music to take my mind away. My moms wasn’t much better but I made some friends that really took me in. They jumped me in there gang, gave me a gun and an ounce of meth and said “go sell this and bring back 600.” I made triple what they expected. And for the first time in my life I had money. I was hooked. By 14, I got curious why so many people wanted that stuff. So I tried it. And I was hooked. I was a full blown meth addict by 15. Needless to say, by 18 I was on my way to prison. I was sent to Chino, my enemies headquarters. And mind you, I was the only active member of my organization in this prison at the time. My odds of surviving if I stayed there were very slim. So I took off (fought) the first person I saw on the yard. Next thing I remember is getting hit so hard in the mouth my ears started ringing. Alarms going off, cops yelling to everyone to get down. All of a sudden I look down, blood gushing everywhere and I see two teeth on the floor and feel something dangling in my mouth and when I touch it it comes out. Another tooth. I got down. I get out of prison and went right back to the same thing. Addicted. For four more years. But this time I went into a Victory Outreach Men’s Recovery Home and gave my life to God. I met my daughter’s mother. Married against my pastors advice, moved to Arizona, and ended up backsliding with my wife. The drugs ruined us and we separated. She took my daughter and went back to California. I eventually hit rock bottom again. My pastor calls me and says he’s sending me a greyhound ticket back home. So I went. And I graduated the Home for a 2nd time. My wife didn’t want to get right and wanted to hotel hop with my daughter while still using. So I filed for custody and got it! I know currently have full custody of my daughter, Corazon, and have a full-time job. We rent a room in my church’s discipleship home. I applied for Full Sail University because I want to further my knowledge in the music industry and get my bachelors in music production.