My name is Cherlyn Rodriguez. I recently turned 21 years old on October 17. I was born in Washington Heights, but I grew up in Spanish Harlem, 119th and Lexington to be exact.
I don’t think I am under any bad influence. I have never done things because I saw others around me in my hood do it. Whatever I have done is because I chose to. I have a mind of my own.
I have always been a good girl in school. I never got kicked out of a school, never got left back in a grade.
I first went to a high school in the Heights. I was supposed to graduate with most of my friends in 2012, but things didn’t turn out that way.
After my first high school I attended an alternative high school named Innovation Diploma Plus. I already had all my credits, but I was missing four regents: algebra, living environment, global and history. After a couple of tries I passed the algebra and global regents, but I couldn’t seem to pass living environment and history.
I attended in I.D.P for about 2-3 years. After not seeing any progress I thought about taking a break, sticking to work, and getting my money.
I saw that my older sister Angie went to Youth Action YouthBuild. She graduated despite having two kids and with one of the way.
She told me about how much she loves YouthBuild. My sister Angie who is now in college is my motivation. If my sister can make it living on her own then so can I.
I have always dreamt of seeing myself walk in a cap and gown and receive my diploma that says HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. I dream of going to college. Instead of my parents helping me I want to help them.
I hope that through YouthBuild I can gain knowledge, experience, independence and most definitely a diploma. I don’t want to just say I did it. I want my diploma so I can get a good job and go to college. I want to fulfill my dreams of becoming an actress.
I see people hustling, getting by without a legal job. When it is over they don’t know what to do next or how they going to support their families when help is needed. I know grown men who hustled back in the day and now they don’t have any money in their pockets because of the lifestyle they chose to live.
Seeing others, my parents, my sister and my brother makes me think about life in the future. Where I want to be. How I want to look. How much money I want to make.
I love to spoil myself and I am willing to work hard to achieve the lifestyle of my dreams.