In the beginning

All I remember when I was young

was riding my bike in front of my grandmother’s house playing with my sister. I was about five years old.

My sister was one year older than me. She was playing with her Barbies.

While I just rode around. I started working at the age of 7 at my uncle's shop welding, making fences and window guards.

I got so good at welding that most of the time I used to weld without the safety mask.

I used to come home late at night with my eyes watery like I was crying all day.

My uncle knew no one was there to vouch for me, so he used to abuse me, putting me to work all day just for 50 pesos. I didn’t know better, plus I wasn’t with my parents.

My mom left my dad for being abusive; she left the country searching for a better life to New York. My mom used to send us toys, clothes, and food while she got the paperwork ready so we could go with her.

I was 8 years old in September 1994.

My sister and I left the Dominican Republic and entered the United States.

All I remember when I was young.

when I came to New York, I was in Soundview and Commonwealth I like New York because everything is closed then it’s overpopulated and is one of the capitals of the world at time my mom used to take us to a lot of family parties and get together at the park so me being smart and try to know it all. I hit the streets by the age of 13 that’s when it all started.