MWYAPInc.

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Like most young teens all over the world I started my endeavors young. I had my first smoke of marijuana at 12, my first cigarette at 13, my first taste of alcohol and sex at 14 and things just down spiraled from there.  Despite of all these things I was good in school, my attendance in high school not so much, but my grades were good. So some people especially teachers, my mom, my pastor and church family felt there was hope for me. Those people never gave up on me even to this day.

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At 14 I got pregnant with my first born, my son. Everything changed after that. I grew up in a religious home through adoption. So getting pregnant so young put me in a world of trouble. My mother and I immediately bumped heads and I found myself living with a friend of the family for the like 6 months of my pregnancy. Due to not being in my own home I begin to run the streets, not doing any drugs but marijuana, because I saw what it did to my parents, but I started selling drugs. Not because I had to because it's what came easy to me.

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By the time I gave birth to my son my mother had had enough and put me on a PINS, which I graduated from with no detection of weed smoke. Not because I thought I was smarter than my PINS officer, but because I was misunderstood. I grew up in a strict household where school came before work and having a child didn't fit in that criteria. Where in the 90's when I grew up, everyone was working and going to school. When I should have been being taught more responsibility my mother didn't think it was a child's place. I lost my son to my mom through a court proceeding because of my age. After that I didn't care.

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It wasn't until I was 16 years old did I have enough of the street life. I ran a muck for over a year, mainly because I was mad at my mom for not giving me the chance to show her I could be responsible. I repaid her by being irresponsible. It got so bad in the streets that I believe I scared myself straight. I watched someone I know die a horrible death, she lost her life and her unborn child's life and it made me think of the path I was taking.

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I had my mom sign me up for Job Corps. It was a school for misbehaved children, usually sent through court, I chose to go. There I received  a vocational trade, my GED, my drivers permit, my intern as a Secretary. I graduated at 17 and came home ready for college. My mom was not happy, to the point where I was put out and at 17 I was homeless and trying to go to school. Things didn't get better right away, but thanks to Job Corps and God I never had a problem getting a job.

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 I eventually took my mother back to court got my son back and I have been doing good every since. I have been stable since I was 21. When my son was murdered by gun violence it shook my world. Everything I learned in life, I tried to install in him.

 

After I grieved for a year I thought, how can I help other children like him. We have so many obstacles between our youth and adult hood, what can I do to help our children make it. I ended up creating, with the help of others, this organization. Everything I learned and even the not so good things I give to you and your children with the hopes that they learn like I did. How to self advocate for themselves, and become leaders from within.