I was raised by a single mother who never made more than $18,847 a year while raising four children on her own. We lived below the poverty line, but somehow she always found a way to keep food on the table and push us forward. Growing up, I was angry, reckless, and constantly in trouble. I spent time in juvenile correctional facilities and caused my mother more stress than any child should. Looking back now, I can only imagine how difficult those years were for her. By the age of 23, I found myself sitting in the 5th Avenue King County Jail for the last time. In that moment, I realized I had absolutely nothing and was headed nowhere. I knew my life needed a radical change. That decision became the turning point that forced me to take responsibility for my future, rebuild my life, and prove that your past does not have to define who you become. | 
