Having a less-than-ideal home life and being disregarded by teachers at school could make anyone lose hope for their future. Youth Radio’s Rynesha Snowden tells us how she plans to overcome the bleak expectations of the projects and frustration at school to pursue her goals.
I grew up in Kennedy Manor in Richmond, California—the projects.
I’m Rynesha Snowden, with a commentary from Youth Radio
As a little kid, I’d go to the store for Snickers, and dudes would be outside, sometimes fighting. Did I turn around and walk away, or just face it? Living in Richmond, I had to face it everyday.
Seeing what I did growing up made me say to myself, “I don’t want to live this life.”
Luckily, my step auntie taught me how to braid. Before I knew it, everybody wanted me to do their hair. It built a burning passion inside me, and was like a get-away from the hood life.
I wish my school had provided the get-away for me and my peers. Instead, my teachers had low expectations. A lot of times, I wasn’t making it to school, because I didn’t have money for the bus. When I did come, the teachers would just ignore me, like I wasn’t there.
Now, I’m about to start working towards my GED. My big dream is to open a hair salon, no lie. But I’m also talking to my cousin about starting a community center… in Richmond. So we can help other young people like us.
