I always thought I was ugly. I mean I have a small nose, big lips short hair. No more friends. Dropped out of school at 10. Yup, that's a very young age, I know. My mother kicked me out because she didn't want me to become a problem. At the time I didn't know what she mean't. So, now I am 13 hustling on the streets... More like begging. We are immagrants from Panama, we came here for a better life, but for me it only got worse. My mother wanted me to get an education so that I could excell in life. All I have to say to m mom is that I'm truly sorry, I just didn't understand why school was so important. It's hard out here...Not a day goes by with me not thinking about my parents and moving back in, especially in the winter. I just don't want to deal with the guilt they'd throw on me. I wouldn't be able to cope with it. So I chose to stay out here. Everyday, I'm out here begging for money. It's sad, I know, but I gotta eat somehow. I sleep in a cardboard box, with a blanket someone gave to me in an alley. I hate Cleveland...... I hate the world. Until one day, I went to a new location to go beg, but instead i saw a whole garden full of people! It used to be a vacant lot with trash everywhere! { I know this because my parents live here and so did I } I didn't see my parents though... They must've been at work. I even saw my old friend, Maricela! She was a drop out too. It looked like she was pregnant. I was going to go over there but I was too embarrased. The next day I thought about going to the garden and planting something, so I'd have something to eat. Then I realized that I had no money! So I begged until I had enough money to buy seeds. So I went over to the lot and started planting. Of course Maricela noticed me and asked me how I was...{ which was really clear} But overall, I was happy to finally be around people. One african american lady offered to help me. I think her name was Leona. I think I'm going to come here more often! This is a place where I feel I belong! Now that Leona has helped me... She's put me back in school... Offered me a room in her apartment... And most of all, she got me off the streets and on the road to education! My parents know but still don't want me. They think I'll go back to my old ways. But this time I'm fully commited!
