Let the rollercoaster begin in 5..4..3..2..1.

Let the rollercoaster begin in 5..4..3..2..1! Part I

Life is designed to teach us lessons. Sometimes life will dish out an unfair hand or a fair hand. Although, life does not come with an instruction manual we learn through our family values and guidance, social upbringing, our environmental surroundings and by our mistakes.

Twenty - Four years ago is when life started for me. I graduated from high school June 1994. I've always been determined and ambitious but on this day, I was getting ready to take flight into the world. I also had dreams and goals of what I wanted to become when I grew up. Being young, beautiful, outgoing and free spirit I was ready to enjoy being young and being adventurous. What a combination that is to also having an adrenaline rush to do whatever I wanted to do. And on top of that my young hormones were racing. At that time, I did have a strong crush on someone that did not pay me any attention in that way but we remained friends and still cool to this day. Due to lack of knowledge and wisdom on self- worth I've suffered many consequences being involved in unhealthy and abusive relationships.

As time goes on, I begin heading on the path of the dream and goals that I had set out for myself growing up and that was to become a Criminal Lawyer serving in the Air Force. I have went as far as to checking out the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) book from the library and getting someone to help me study and prepare for the exam. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful with passing that exam; math especially was my worst subject. After taking the exam on the third try and still not able to pass, I gave up. It did not stop me from attempting to pursue my career as a lawyer but it just lets me know that that plan was not for me. Wanting to feel free as a bird and go even further to see what other options that were set out for me. I always tried to stay out of trouble meaning with the law while finding myself in the world.

By August 1996, I found an alternative direction that will help me succeed in life and break free from the tight rules at home. So I decided to attend Los Angeles Job Corps not knowing that this place was going to have its own set of rules and holding on to the feeling that I would have a little more freedom to explore things. I wanted to stay in a co-ed dorm to get away from home. During the first thirty days, I had to attend orientation for eight long hours. I stayed on the 13th floor in a room with five females including myself. We slept on bunk beds. I had some really cool roommates. I'll never forget them. We've laughed, cried, had some up's and some downs but we remained cool.

On the first day staying in the dorm, I was able to meeting our new RA (Residential Advisor) and the other ladies that was also staying on the 13th floor. There were at least 25-30 ladies on the floor. At the end of the meeting with the RA we were told that every night at 10pm we had to do "Long Hall". Long Hall is when we had to sweep the floors, empty the trash in all rooms, scrub walls, clean windows, buff the entire hallway floor, wipe down stair rails. Every day our rooms would be inspected by the RA on the floor; our rooms had to be clean and beds had to made so tight that they're able to bounce a quarter off the bed without any lumps in your covers or you will not have any privileges to leave for the weekend. Once the RA announced after the meeting that we were able to take part in officer positions on the 13th floor. That was right up my alley. For instance, if someone was selected to take role as president or secretary will be able to opt out of doing "Long Hall" and will also be given V.I.P status.

That's my chance is what I told myself. I ran for the president position and won all votes on the floor. No one else wanted to step-up so I took it. Another young lady, Jo Ann Vasquez who became my secretary and my best friend. We both gotten even luckier because we ended up moving out of our rooms; in which me and Jo Ann started off as roommates to moving into a bigger room of our own and we didn't have to do "Long Hall". During my time at L.A.J.C. I began meeting different people around my age, from different nationality, background, lifestyle, male and female. I was a part of Student Body Government and attended various social and group meetings. Every month at the "Center" we would have award ceremonies and every month I've received awards for Student of the Month, Perfect Attendance, Over & Above Recognition award, Student Body President. I even ran for president for the entire center against my good friend, a male, Percy Green. Wow! That's how much confidence that I had in myself. Although I didn't win I became a part of the L.A.J.C. Chapter Alumni Association.