My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.I found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. Because high school’s a big place I joined smaller groups of Marching band and swim team.We bonded together over scorching heat during band camp and early swim practices before school. We sacrificed and felt set apart and special. It felt good when upperclassmen called out our name at school so we made sure to call out the underclass mens names to make them feel set apart and special. Over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.

Yes My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.I found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. Because high school’s a big place I joined smaller groups of Marching band and swim team.We bonded together over scorching heat during band camp and early swim practices before school. We sacrificed and felt set apart. Over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.

My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.I found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. Because high school’s a big place I joined smaller groups of Marching band and swim team.We bonded together over scorching heat during band camp and early swim practices before school. We sacrificed and felt set apart and special. Over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.

My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. Because high school’s a big place I joined smaller groups of Marching band and swim team.We bonded together over scorching heat during band camp and early swim practices before school. We sacrificed and felt set apart and special. over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.

My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.I found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. Because high school’s a big place I joined smaller groups of Marching band and swim team.We bonded together over scorching heat during band camp and early swim practices before school. We sacrificed and felt set apart and special. It felt good when upperclassmen called out our name at school so we made sure to call out the underclass mens names to make them feel set apart and special. Over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.

My mom and dad are dead. That's a conversation stopper. When I was 3 my father died in an accident.My mother became a single mom . We depended on each other for everything. When I was 12, my mother was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.Pain spread all over her body and she could barely breathe. I was scared. I didn't know what would happen if my mother died except that everything would change. Everything did change. Her health rapidly declined. In the mornings I gathered the food and water she would need for the day because she was too weak to get up. I got myself and my brother ready for school and to the bus on time . While at school I worried I would go home to find her dead. I would quickly get off the bus in the afternoon to finally talk to her. I saw the defeat in her eyes as I cleaned her up since she was bedridden and couldn't care for herself. This emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. She watched while I made dinner with little to no groceries.No one shopped for us and we had no money, so we had no laundry or dish soap or toilet paper. My brother often ran away because he couldn't handle it and I would look for him. I was watching my mom die before my eyes. 3 weeks before Christmas my mother died. I was at school.My life changed suddenly.I moved from rural Tennessee to suburban Atlanta to live with my Aunt.While packing up, it felt like we were leaving my mom behind. Everything changed. New school(Twice as big) , unfamiliar house, distant relatives(Kind but unknown),no friends. A whole new life only with scars from the past. I never expected the unselfish response of a community.First, we nervously previewed the Tae-Kwon-Do program.a Older kid with an advanced belt showed me around the studio and made me feel like I belonged and was not a burden.he became my first friend. We became best friends and ran summer camps and mentored other new kids. We proudly challenged each other to go up in belt ranks. He became a familiar face in school.The male instructors helped me grow my confidence by letting me take on additional responsibilities and holding me accountable in my personal life.They treated me like family.We ate dinners together and they disciplined me when I needed it. I was being raised by a community. I was put into a boy scout troop against my will. I did not know anyone and it didn't sound fun.When I camped it felt like I could be a kid without grownup responsibilities.I found friends my age and we could make our own decisions and have our own adventure. Our bond was like a brotherhood, we did everything together like camping and staying up all night talking by the lake,figuring out how to make a triple decker hammock fortress, and conspiring to include others who did not want to be there and changing their minds. I learned it was okay to make mistakes like forgetting to pack clothes or falling out of a hammock and getting dirty. I learned to laugh at myself and not be as serious. We became eagle scouts when others thought scouts weren't cool. We sacrificed and felt set apart and special. It felt good when upperclassmen called out our name at school so we made sure to call out the underclass mens names to make them feel set apart and special. Over the years I saw a community build me, now I'm ready to start building my own.