Written By Bianca Williams

Who Am I

Just graduated, and you might think that I’d be thrilled, right?  I was definitely ready to be finished with high school.  When I first graduated my thoughts were only “Yes, I’m done.” It’s really the beginning of my life.  I’m in the real world now.  I thought I knew myself, only to learn that I am finding myself.  Coming into adulthood changes you completely and that was something that I was unaware of.  Scared I am, of change that is.  This person that I thought I knew is changing so fast.  Who likes change?  I don’t, but you have to accept it with open arms.  I thought it was just me, but everyone experiences this when you come into a new stage in your life.   I am becoming a woman, so what am I gonna do?  Nothing but accept this change.  Now its time to figure out what I want out of life.  Well I have

a plan and I plan to stick with it, no matter what!  So what do I say to people

that are experiencing this?  Don’t be afraid of change.  It can sometimes be good.  Make your choices as an adult.  Be wise.  CHOICE.  Its time to choose not who you want in your life, but who you need in your life.  Whether its family or friends.  Some people will try to tear you down and keep you there.  They can keep you there only if you let them.  So choose who will keep you down and who will keep you up.  Always stay true to yourself!

Bianca, 18

Written By Jasmine Baker..........

Hi. My name is Jasmine and I am 6 years old.  When I grow up I want to be singer or I would like to be a teacher.  I like to sing and dance.  My favorite hobbies are coloring and reading books.  I love to go tomy daddy’s house on the weekend.

Jasmine, 6

Written by Jabriel Warren

My name is Jabriel.  I am 14 years old and in the 9th grade at Youngstown Early College/Chaney and I used to go to Eagle Heights Academy.  I love to play Basketball and Football.  I would consider myself a B, C average student.  I am very short guy with a lot of character.  When someone speaks bad about me or calls me names I am able to control myself and choose the right attitude.  I know how to respect myself and everyone around me.  I have lots of responsibilities like doing the best I can in YEC.  So to all kids coming up, do your best and if you want it that bad, you can make all your dreams come true.

Jabriel, 14

Written By Janae Williams

As I was growing up I lived in a house with two sisters, one brother and my mother.  My mother is the strongest woman I have ever known because she has four kids and raised us on her own even though she was young and she still went to school and work.  She is very independent, strong, wonderful, beautiful and unique.  Although she struggled she still made it through knowing that everything is alright and I love her so much for that.  I was too young to remember if my father was there but as I got older, my dad went to jail for five years and we moved to Minnesota then Columbus, Ohio for 8 years. 

Now I am a young beautiful, strong, independent young lady and life may not have been the easiest thing for me but I have been through so much from me not doing well in school, stressing over my dad, seeing that my mom was struggling, family members passing.  I don’t have the best life but right now, it is perfect to me.  My family is together. I have a roof over my head, I’m in school and me and my dad are finally getting along.  Being a young black African American is not easy.  There’s so much stuff in life that we go through but we all can get through it if you really want to because it is hard out there.  Its young men and women out here on drugs, getting killed, homeless and have nowhere to go so be happy for what you got and don’t take advantage of it. 

Just live life to the fullest.  But before I didn’t live life to the fullest because for a long time me and my dad never got along and it is so wonderful to me that we are getting along but I was going through so much stuff, I had to just let it go cause life is too short for all the nonsense and you will go nowhere by holding grudges. 

Everyday I thought about how me and my dad use to be. I never use to talk to him because I didn’t want to.  My dad really wasn’t there for us and I held that against him because I felt as if he should have been there.  He helped make us so he should have been there.  But I had to let that go because I see he is really trying to be there for us. 

He is trying to make up to us for what he didn’t do and we have four other stepbrothers and a stepsister and I love them all.  They are four beautiful people that I have let in my life and I am so happy that they are my family.  My dad’s wife is beautiful and sweet.  I take her in too and I am glad that my father is happy.  I wrote this to let everybody know that life ain’t easy.

We go through the struggles and we go through the pain but keep your heads up high and know that everything will be alright.  Go to school and get your education, go to work knowing that everything is alright and that you can and you will make it.

Janae, 16

My name is Cadijah and I am 7 years old and I live Youngstown, Ohio.  I’m a student at Taft and I am writing this because there are some things that need to be changed in Youngstown, the first thing that needs to STOP IS

VIOLENCE.  I think that would be a good start.  I also think that there should be an amusement park so kids could have something to do for summer vacation.  I think there should be a bigger skating ring on every side of town.  We also should start a neighborhood clean up so Youngstown could stay nice and clean and those are just some of the things that needs to be and can be changed in Youngstown, we need to make our city a clean and safe environment for kids like me.

Cadijah, 7