From the beginning I’ve struggled to find my place.

I grew up in Los Angeles in the inner city. Naivety pushed me forward until I was faced with growing up early. I was faced with what my mother was faced against. My mother lost her father and things began to unravel. My grandfather Fabian Da Silva. At a young age I wasn’t really able to get to know my grand father. I had a since or a vibe he really wanted the best for us. It was one day I really felt my innocence leave me. I knew my grandfather was sick but it took seeing him in his favorite chair motionless for things to really sit in. The one father figure I had growing up was gone.

I felt as if I was alone but I had to do something for my mom… But I couldn’t do anything. Nothing at all… I was just a leech. Just there watching as we lost everything. Watched as family became enemies. Watched as my mom lost everything. We tried to move on by selling the property and moving on but we couldn’t survive. We lost that home and moved onto the streets. Early I had to come to grips of understanding that I have to make a call.

So I pushed into the fire service… As I struggled to stay above water during that process. I had to make the call the join military service. I hated the idea of leaving my family and friends but I had to do it, so I joined. I learned a lot about the world and a lot about myself through this. I later grew to appreciate the experience. Going through the process I was dead set on not letting anything stop me from making a change. I didn’t want my mother on the streets while I had a bed. When I got my first check in bootcamp even with the deductions I finally felt I was doing something.

After my years of service I sat on my actions be it in the Fire service, Military and to now in animation and I feel comfortable with the challenge. Even if the problems are from the cards I was dealt, Systemic or environmental. I feel I got this I just have to keep refining myself. I know where I want to be I just have to keep going.