There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end. My coach came up to me and punched me in the chest and started laughing. He said ¨Even though we lost, we have some work to do this summer to get the chip next year.¨ I was so mad but I understood what he was trying to say to me. I thought next year and what we need to do as a team to work even harder and rise again as a team. I think about the challenges I have overcome but I know that my journey is not yet over. I still have a lot of chapters to go until my story is complete.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end.

There is a lot to my story that makes me who I am today. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. When I was growing up, I only had one parent and my older brother in my life. My brother and I didn't really get along because we had to share a room our whole lives. My brother used to be mad when he had to take me everywhere because I was not old enough to go anywhere on my own. I was a good brother but I usually tell my mom every bad thing he used to do. When he brought me around his friends , they used to put me in the trash can. I struggled trying to get out every time, I don't know why they did it but I know that I didn't like it at all. It was just my mom, my brother and I growing up in the household. My dad was not in my life most of my life because he went to jail when I was one year old. So I did not really have a father figure in my life besides my Uncles. It was hard for me growing up around a city with drug dealing and shootings happening around me. I really did not know what was right or what was wrong. While looking around, I thought that the life of crime was the way to go. I was a type of person who asked his mom for all the answers about the mayhem in the city. So to get me away from the life of crime, my mom got me involved with sports. While I was busy doing sports, it would keep my mind focused on what can lead me to a brighter path than the life of crime. I believed that my Mother made the right choice and I am grateful to have her as a mother and as a role model. I look back on the beginning of my journey everyday and never have any regrets. On my journey, I faced a lot of challenges that caused me to break down into fear, sadness, and anger. On the path to high school, I first suffered from fear. I realized that I was in a new environment and had to try to make new friends. I managed to overcome that obstacle easily, then I bumped into another one. The sadness inside me came out when my dad passed away while I was still getting to know him. I never felt like that before because I really did not feel a huge amount of pain all at one time. I really did not have him in my life side by side. I really started keeping in contact with him in 8th and 9th grade. The letters that he sent me, I looked back on them so I can read the advice he gave me. I bravely pulled myself together and got through that and became stronger. I am a basketball guy, I play basketball everyday non-stop. My school has not been to a championship game ever and we made it this year for the first time. While playing in the game, I felt a little scared because it was a big opportunity to be there. We came up short and I was so angry that we did not win the game. We worked so hard from the beginning of the season to the end.