Before everything started in my story I was not thinking straight. I was being selfish and didn’t bother to listen to anyone, only myself; and I didn’t accept help. I was arrogant and ignorant. I believed that school and my education were nothing important but rather just a big joke. I was always home and never bothered to try anything.

My past is the definition of regret to me. There are many moments when I reflect on my past and wish I could go back in time to fix my mistakes and errors. I am unhappy about the situation I'm in, but the thing that makes it better for me is that I know I am able to recover from this. I hope to come back to my old buddies and hope to be with my girlfriend everyday again.

When I started going to Bridges High School my junior year I had a deep conversation about my life with my girlfriend who set me on my path to redemption. She set me back into the right path and now I am much better than I had ever been before. It was really weird for me at first to let my friends go and to be alone in a school with new people and a whole different vibe than my old school. It was really strange but mainly important for me to stay in my own lane.

One day my girlfriend came over to my house and we had a conversation about school and the people I had in my circle. I am grateful for that moment happening because I would've never been this way if it wouldn’t have happened. I was super delusional and didn’t see how fake my old friends were and still are to this day. I keep my circle tight and don't look forward to opening it more. I, of course, have a couple of buddies at Bridges which is great. If it weren't for her I would still be a disappointment in my parents eyes and I would've still tried fitting in with my old friends.

I started distancing myself from my old friends and I even started to park my car away from them and not speak to them or anything.  I started finding new people at Bridges to hang out with and talk to, and my girlfriend always reminds me of what's best for me. I’ve been better in school ever since and became the real me not hanging out with people who are bad to me. They are just a big NO in my life and I couldn't be happier to cut them out of my life.

I’ve learned that I am now the real me - the quiet and calm kid that I have always been. I’m not forcing myself to become obnoxious and annoying anymore. The most important thing for me is that I’ve become a better person and a better boyfriend that is more respectful all around. I am proud of who I am now because I stopped doing bad things and other dumb stuff that wasn’t helping me. The love of my life is the person who motivates me to keep going and to become the best me that I can be. She always keeps me company through messaging and makes me not feel alone even though she goes to another school.

My goal this year is to do the best I can and to graduate next year in my old school with my girlfriend. I want to make my parents proud of the hard work it took to come here and give me a better life, so I will keep attending school to pursue my dreams.

© Jesse. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.