Where you begin does not define who you are or who you will be. What defines you is where you plan to go. Growing up in the ghetto from a young age was what molded me to being the person who would soon become, a nobody. I often saw myself falling lower down the ladder, school wasn't on my mind, as a matter of fact school wasn't in my agenda, I would skip and smoke bud with friends.
Then when I thought I wouldn't sink any further I started stealing. I knew it was wrong, but when you live in the suburbs in which taking the life of another is an everyday sight then stealing is something which is totally permissible. I would stay out in the dark, cold streets way past 12 a.m. waiting for vulnerable people to come within our crossfire and that's when the person would end up knocked out in a ally missing his wallet, watch, phone or anything of value. It all started when a friend of mine was taken away from me at a young age. Doing these sort of things made it feel as if were closer to my dear friend.
One day I was told I was going to move, I thought the change was to be to a different street but never would I have guessed it would have been a change if 1,429.4 miles. I grew up in these streets, so moving to another was quite a shocker to me. I often told myself I would hate it, that I wasn't going to change regardless of where I stood. Like sand falling into an hourglass I felt the adaption was to take forever and which it did. I recall taking my first steps into this new home of mine, it was a rather big house, in a nice quiet, neighborhood.
My first day of school was ... different, it wasn't at all like what all my previous schools were like. People were polite, they had respect for one another, nobody had to act a certain way to be respected. As the days passed I started realizing that maybe changing was something to consider. But the memories from the past struck my head harder then the bullet that took my dear friend's life.
One night I couldn't take it anymore, I blazed my way out of the door and started running, I ran and ran and ran, I felt my legs burn, I felt my head steam, I ran away from it all. When I finally stopped to rest is when I realized that running was in my blood, because when I run it is when I am finally at ease. I forgot about everything, so I made it an everyday habit to release all the anger and pain from within. By doing so I started to calm down more, becoming more serene, I also started to pay more attention in school which till this day I attend every single day with 100% of my attention.
I am now employed, I've seen the change in me and so have others. I am a new person, I run at competitions, I have grades I've only dreamed about and I work. Although I do miss my old city, these 1,429.4 Miles have been the best thing that's happened to me, and through it all, now is when I feel closest to my dear friend.
Points: 240
Reviews: 101
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