Growing up in the city of Oakland, California I have been surrounded by drug abuse and mental illness, I witnessed how it destroyed vibrant lives surrounding me and also the dynamic within my own personal family. Experiencing such anger and helplessness at such a young age motivated me to become someone who could make a difference. I would plead for clarity and change from the people I loved most. I have been molded by my constant battles I am now committed in pursuing the help needed for drug prevention, including gaining access to rehabilitation resources in our impoverished city. This environment helped shape my personal admiration and meaning of education. College for a long period of time was something that was never anticipated, my natural yearning for change has stemmed my love for knowledge.
