Growing up in Boyle Heights, also known as the ghetto in East Los Angeles, California was tough. I saw a lot of gang activity and witnessed numerous drive-bys and shootings. It was heartbreaking to see innocent children losing their lives because of someone else's actions. I remember a 12-year-old boy who was walking to school on his birthday. Two guys approached him and asked for his brother's whereabouts. When the boy said he didn't know, they told him to get in their car. He refused because his mom was waiting for him, but they didn't care. They told him it was his last day and shot him multiple times. I saw this happen with my own eyes, but I couldn't do anything about it. My mom always told me to stay out of the way, but eventually, I witnessed too much violence and ended up joining the neighborhood. I wasn't the type to go out and kill someone for no reason, but I did get involved in other criminal activities. I ended up in county jail for five years and when I got out, I tried to do better. Sadly, my life took a turn when my dad and sister passed away, and I turned to meth to cope with the pain. I became addicted and ended up living under a bridge for a few months when my family kicked me out. It was a tough time, but I knew I needed to stop before it was too late. I lost the love of my life because of my addiction and realized that life is not a movie, it's a harsh reality that we live every day. If I could go back, I would make different choices.