From the Hood but Always Up to Good

Born in Orange County, living life with no complaints.

I moved to San Bernardino when I was ten, the culture sure did change.

Living near the beaches, swimming nearly every day,

 to gang banging and shootings, that was the 'Dino's' way.

I was always infatuated with the themes of the inner city  neighborhood,

From a Hip Hop obsession and what the music displayed, to movies such as 'Boyz-N-Da-Hood'.

The African American culture had a lot to say.

In Southern California, their culture seemed so powerful to me.

I am Mexican, so I can never fully relate, I just knew it was deep,

but San Bernardino sure did show me that being a minority was not all too great to be.

My father always showed me that our heritage was something to be proud of.

He once said, "Ambition, integrity and dedication is in our blood Son"

But as soon as i moved into the neighborhood, I noticed things would not be the same.

The nights were dark, but the voices and tones were still heard prominently.

Kids playing out in the middle of the street, the street lights were the sun to them. 

In Orange County parents warned us to come inside before dark, cautiously.

Seeing and hearing kids my age still having fun during bed time, was unheard of.

I wanted to join them so anxiously, but asking my parents seemed like a burden. 

Time went on and I got older, I then was exposed to the things they were holding me from.

My block was consistent with drug transactions, gangs, and exposure to fire arms.

This was all in front of me, but my neighborhood friends knew this was not a part of me.

Peolpe knew I had high academic and athletic ambitions, but I always supported my friend's decesions.

We all had one common goal, to get out of the 'hood' by any means.

Whether athletic achievements or academic success, to be prominent was the theme.

I propelled through high school with good grades, the same friends could not say the same.

Many peers doubted the aspirations I would display to them,

but once I got accepted to college, there was nothing they could say except 'I wish i was him'.

Although I have reached many of my goals, like my youths ambitions of succeeding in High School,

To staying out of trouble and not doing what the rest were saying was cool, my vision was always clear.

Stay true to one's self and follow your heart. I followed those words from the start.