Richmond California is a ‘’hood’’ community, most of its habitants are Latino and African-American. Richmond is a city that holds a history of hardship and commitment to the community. The Richmond harbor once was use to repair battle ships from world war two, now a days the harbor is abandon and very few people work in there. Richmond is not a wealthy community but it is rich in so many other aspects. During the pass years of the economic recession, part of Richmond is been re-possess by the banks and home owners had been kicked out. Properties and buildings are now abandoned as a result more homeless and more criminal activity in the city. Many outsiders think that Richmond is a horrible place to move in; with remembrances of murder victims on street corners the city life looks tougher than it actually is. I believe that all the people that lives in the city would like to move to another community and improve their lives but to get out of the ‘’hood ‘’ a person has to be determinate to change and embrace new concepts and life styles but at the same time represent with honor and respect the place where they came from. Escaping from a community where maybe your family has been living generations is not impossible but it is hard. Improvement is a change and change is evolution. I can't think about a reason to stay there in the hood with all this wrong conceps and stereotypes of me. I love Richmond, I love my home but just like every proccess of nature there is a time to fly away from my nest. Unless I win the lottery my only chance to improve my life is trought education. I found my wings in YEARUP, these program is empowering me to change, I realize that in order to be successful I have to be able to change my defects and correct my mistakes, it would not make any sense to me if I come to year up and not follow the rules and adapt to them . if I want to be a professional I need to learn to act like a professional. My best friend once told me ''fake it to make it'' and that to me means that I have to pretent first in order to be.At that point keeping an open mind is essential for personal growth, for example I can not be stuck at my old habits of being irresponsable. It would not make any sense of come to year up and behave like if I am in a street in Richmond competing with others to see who makes the loudest noise.I do not think that escaping from a community like Richmond is imposible I believe is a challenge, and that challenge is to accept the change in our lives and take advantage of every opportunity that life provide us.I think that persons stay in the same community for decades because they are scare of change. I'm gifted and I'm very proud of my roots, but the world goes beyond the walls in my room , the world goes beyond my imagination and discovering the world and what is out there is the best thing that can happen to me and that is what would make me escape from my own fears and my own liltle world.
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