Category: Piece of the Week

-Christina, San Francisco Something I changed a lot about myself is my actions and accountability. Also known as following a program turned my life to God, and preparing for the worst but preparing for the best. Another thing I changed is going to school more, got back on my feet learned to write, draw. Even throw my past life away which was the biggest challenge I had to overcome.  Started to eat little more, a lot of fruit and actually gave food a shot. Engaging programs. The people I thought were my friends aren’t my friends. A challenge was to

-DZ, Albuquerque Most of the time I focus on others rather than myself. My need to fix other people’s problems and struggles is the burden that I carry. Even before I got locked up, I had to be the person to solve problems and the person everyone could count on. That made me neglect all of my problems and eventually I got hurt.  I am an extremely caring and loving person, but I have learned that I can’t help anyone until I help myself first. I have finally decided it is time for me to put the love, energy and

-L, Sacramento When I was like ten, my whole family took a surprise trip to my family’s home town in Mississippi. My dad never told me or my little brother about the trip, we just woke up early one morning and we went to my auntie’s house.  Then, we got in a big van with the rest of my family and we started a long drive to my uncle’s house to pick up family, and even then my dad still didn’t tell us where we were going until we got to my uncle’s house.  After the long three hour and

-Spaz, San Francisco The joy in my life is that you guys come every Monday and we write about different topics so that we can express ourselves. It helps me express myself and I can show my ideas to other counties and places. Maybe somebody reading will like my writing and sponsor me.  I like to read the magazine when it comes. I like to see who has Pieces of the Week. I like to see when my pieces are in the magazine, they are usually in the front. I just try my best every week so I can get

-Zion, San Mateo An important issue in the world is homelessness. Many people in Cali face this problem due to being unable to get accepted by jobs or having family issues as little kids, and not having the resources to help them survive.  You can see more than five hundred people downtown in the city on crack, meth, pills, and other stuff toxic to the body. Even myself and my grandma faced being homeless many times due to her health issues, which stopped her from working and me being unable to provide for her because the jobs I would apply

-DC, Sonoma  When I was locked up in the county jail, it was essential to keep myself busy because you’re locked up in a cell for twenty-three hours a day.  I would start my day at five am sharp and have the “mod workers” pass me some steaming hot water so I can drink my morning cup of coffee and get my day started. Before I drink my coffee, I make sure that I drink two large cups of water and pace my cell back and forth so I can wake up.  I enjoy reading the press and saving the

-JSM, Sonoma  My most cherished possession is life because no matter what there is always something to gain, negative or positive.  There is always something to gain. No matter what you gain it can be a new lesson, skill, new anger cooperating skills, or whatever. Life is always full of amazing, exciting ideas, stuff, and adventures. Just take advantage of it, have no regrets and don’t put life to waste. There is a lot of time, but not a lot of life. 

-IL, San Francisco “When I see people of my likeness, or somebody that I feel connected to doing something great, I feel like I can do it. It gives me some hope and vision.” -Common  I feel like this quote is actually pretty good because I feel like most people feel like they can’t do something but see people that are just like them doing something that they feel they can’t do. It pushes them to do it as well and it makes it easier for them to do so.  For example, I would always tell myself that I never

-SK, San Mateo  The greatest sacrifice that I did was leaving my family for more than two years without my presence and being there for them to help.  My family was always there for me when I needed them and they always loved me. I never realized how much they liked and loved me. Maybe I was focusing on the negative energy they gave me and all the beating my parents gave me. I was mad, so I didn’t listen to anything they said to me and told myself that I make my own choices.  I now realize how much

-Scythe Something about David is that he really wanted the best for me. David was one reason why I didn’t come back here for a long time. I love the way he puts things together and the way he says things.  He was one of my best friends while I was in here. I was always working forward to Wednesdays so I can come to The Beat Within.