It had always been us

VIEWPOINT OF A TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY CADET

“It had always been us,” I asked myself. “But had it really?”

Before coming to Texas ChalleNGe Academy, I constantly did horrendous things to myself and my family, and it wasn’t easy for them. My parents always told me to make good choices, but those always went through one ear and out the other.

I was like a turtle in a shell hiding, hiding because I was scared to come out and learn what life could really be like. Home was hard. I constantly felt depressed, unloved, and unworthy. My mom, Lenora, wanted me to open up to her, but for some reason I didn’t.

When I felt depressed, I felt like my world was falling apart. I now know that my family always had my back. I just couldn’t see it. I never intended to walk the wrong path, but I did anyway.

At school, I was a different person. I sought attention and always wanted to be the cool one. Some people liked me, but others did not. I kept getting in trouble at school and was going nowhere.

Damien, my five year old brother, always told me to make good choices in school, but I didn’t. Even my sisters, Aliah and Camila, would tell me to do good, but I shut them all out and just kept repeating bad behavior and making bad choices.

I finally pushed my parents to their limits and made a really dumb choice. I had become a liar and untrustworthy, and that’s when my mom started looking for a place for me to go. Two days later, she found TCA and told me that I would be attending.

I was very angry, but on January 14th at 2:00 a.m., my mom and both my sisters took me to Rice High School for intake day. When I was left there alone, I wanted to run off, but something inside me kept telling me to stay and get my life in order.

It was tough, but TL Belvin actually saw the good in me through all my ranting and crying. She helped me learn how to forgive myself and others. Staying here has been hard, but being here has helped me learn how to cope with life.

I have learned that my voice is my sovereignty-freedom. I am so grateful that my parents never gave up on me. All of the TLS and staff have showed me that I can be a great person and achieve my goals.