Hello everyone my name is Miguel Negron Jr. and this is the story of my life. I am a seventeen year old Puerto Rican who grew up in the streets of East Harlem.
I am the oldest child of three. I grew up with my grandmother due to the fact that my mom and dad couldn’t take care of me.
Like many men in East Harlem my dad sold drugs for a living after dropping out of school. He had been in and out of jail. My mom on the other hand was going to school graduated high school while she was pregnant with me.
After dating my dad my mom later chose to go the wrong route. Living the fast and easy life prevented them from raising the two children they had together.
Throughout my childhood my dad continued to go in and out of jail. One day my mom up and left because her and my dad couldn’t come to an understanding.
I basically grew up without my parents there for me. I grew up not understanding why I had to go through these things. It hurt me and made me angry that I really didn’t have a family.
I still dream of waking up to my mom and dad together, both happy and taking care of me and my baby brother.
Instead of keeping positive and staying focused I slowly gave up and picked up habits that got in the way of relationships and my priorities. My grandparents are already in their older days so they can do but so much.
At the young age of eleven I started to smoke weed, drink and hang out with the wrong crowd. My habits got me nothing but problems which landed me in jail.
At the time I was lost. I felt like I had nothing to lose. I felt like nobody cared.
One day I was skipping school, smoking weed, drinking and playing a dice game called “cielo,” then cops rush in the building and caught me and kids I thought were my friends at the time. At bookings I sat and thought to myself what was going to happen to me? I was already on probation.
It wasn’t until I was sent to jail that I realized that the only person who cared about me more than herself was my grandmother. She was the only person to send me mail and come to visit me in jail. I realized that all she wanted for me was to be set in life so she could pass on in peace.
I decided to take action for myself and look for help.
I wanted more and I knew there is more out there for me. I found out about a program my step sister went to called Youth Action YouthBuild East Harlem.
The first time I went to the office to join it was already too late. I had to wait until the next year to get into the program.
While I waited to join YouthBuild and finally do something in my life I made a complete 360 in my demeanor. I told myself if I wanted to be successful there had to be a change and it had to start now.
From that day forward I see everything different. I look at life in a whole new way. There is a lot more in life then staying on the block all day and hanging out with your boys chasing girls.
I sit back now and think to myself “nah I don’t want that.” I want the girls to chase me. I want the money to come to me. I realize that I already gave up my chances in high school and that YouthBuild might be the only other way.
It’s all or nothing from here.
Whether or not I become somebody after my opportunities is on me.