2. THE BEGINNING
Growing up in the big city is no joke. The concrete jungle is
very much applied when you have to deal with con artist and
convicts that want to bleed you dry. As a young man, the
options of making it out into a better life is slim to none and
the only thing you have to count on is yourself. No parents
so I had to learn right from wrong even though I did a lot of
wrong. All I needed was about two thousand more dollars to
get into college, and not just any college, one of the top
colleges in the country, USC. I had all the grades, President
of the debate, Math, Science teams, and one of the captains
of the varsity football team. But that was the easy part, the
challenge has been paying for this college education. My
aunt and uncle where no help, they where drunks and drugs
fiends so asking them for money was not even a question. I
had to do what I knew best. Sell drugs.
3. I had been selling drugs since I was 14 to pay the bills and keep food in
the house for me and my little sister Tasha. Our parents died when I
was only 8 years old by a drive by shooter. I guess you can say that is
common thing growing up in Compton. We moved to our Aunt Stacy
and Uncle Ray house so we wouldn’t be in the system, but as I got older
I am starting to think that the system wasn’t a bad choice. Now I am 17
years old and heading to college, I hope. All I need is two thousand
more dollars and its off to a better life for me and my sister. You see I
was granted financial aid, but wasn’t able to get the full amount, so I had
to come up with 50 thousands dollars, which is no small order, but if
you stayed where I stay at you could make that in two months. With all
the bills, groceries, and other things that come up on a daily basics I
had eventually saved up 48 thousand dollars. I had to have the money
in three weeks, so I was pretty much in grind mode until then. I had my
friend Jamal helping me out. I knew him since the 3rd grade and we have
the same interest, Money, girls, and a better life. Well his goals were a
little different, he wanted to keep selling drugs because he could see
himself going to college and being all preppy. He wanted to take over
the drug game and be the kingpin on the streets.
4. So I had three more weeks to get 2000 dollars and five more
weeks until graduation, ever thing was looking good. Every
Wednesday night I would go to my parents grave and talk to
them and give them a status report of how we are doing.
Afterward I would head over to Gram Street and start
working. All I could think of his how much better my life
would be when I go to college. Thinking about the college life
and college girls, I couldn’t wait. After about three hours of
standing on the block, I run out of work. So I decided to call it
night. I had just made 500 dollars. 125 of that was for the re-
up and rest was for bills and my savings. I followed this
routine for two weeks, and saved up 7 grand. That was
enough for me to pay for college and get an apartment for me
and my sister.
5. So now it’s graduations day and I start to get ready for the celebration of
getting out of this hell hole. As soon as I go to the door I get a phone
call. It is my Cousin Jaz, he tells me that Jamal was just killed in a drug
deal that went bad. I stand there froze. When he told me that the first
thing that came to my head was when we was younger playing at my
parents backyard on the slip-n-slide. I start to cry, feeling like It was my
fault. I didn’t make it to graduations that night, matter of fact I didn’t go
out much after that. I felt empty and alone after that. Now all I wanted to
do was just get the hell out of Compton and go off to college. Three
months past by and it’s time for me and my sister to leave. As I pack my
bags, I start to remember all the memories I had in that house and
community. It gave me a sense of joy know that I was leaving a bad
situation going to something better. As me and my sister drive down
the road, I stop by the graveyard where my parents are buried and tell
them, “I made It”. As I start to leave, I head over to Jamal grave and let
him know that I will never forget you. I get back into my car and head to
USC, my next big challenge.
