The Courage to Be Seen[edit]
Listen, I'm not proud of everything I've done in my life. There are parts of my past that still make me cringe when I think about them. But here's what I learned: even the smallest steps forward can mean the world.
A few weeks ago, I had a small victory. It might seem insignificant to some, but for me, it was huge. I stood up in front of a group of kids at our youth center and shared my story. Not just the parts that make me look good, but the raw, ugly truth about where I came from and how I ended up there.
It wasn't easy. Standing in front of those kids, knowing they were looking at someone who used to be part of a gang, was terrifying. I could feel their eyes on me, some curious, others judgmental. But I pushed through the fear because I knew that if I didn’t share my story, no one else might.
What made this moment so important? It proved to myself and those kids that you're not too far gone. That no matter how dark your past is, there's always a chance for redemption. It showed them that someone who was once in their shoes could turn things around and make something of themselves.
I saw the impact it had on some of those kids. Their eyes widened with surprise, maybe even a little hope. They realized that I wasn’t just a guy talking; I was living proof that change is possible. That's what mattered to me—seeing that spark in their eyes, knowing that my story could inspire them to make better choices.
It’s the small victories like these that keep me going. They remind me of how far I’ve come and why it’s worth continuing to walk this path. It’s not just about me anymore; it’s about showing others that there's a way out, no matter how deep you are in.
So here’s to the small wins—the ones that might go unnoticed by everyone else but mean everything to us. They’re the stepping stones on our journey to redemption and growth.
— Francisco Meyer, walking a different path