James' Story: Turning Hardship into Hope Artwork

Youth Voice Amplified

Join hosts Gennessa Fisher and Brian Johnson for this youth-led and youth-focused monthly interview series as they talk with young people about their life experiences with homelessness, foster care, disabilities, teen parenting, and more. Each conversation will uncover stories of hope and strength from youth storytellers who will share the best ways we can support youth in similar situations. If you want to know how to do better for youth or simply be inspired, this is your show! Every youth has a story to tell. Are you ready to listen?

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Youth Voice Amplified

James' Story: Turning Hardship into Hope

September 04, 2024 • Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office • Season 1 • Episode 21

In this episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we’re bringing you James’s powerful story. He talks about what it was like to face homelessness at a young age, bouncing from place to place, and how it affected his time in school. James doesn't hold back as he shares the tough realities of trying to keep up with his education while dealing with constant instability.

James doesn’t hold back—he shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between. His story is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to overcome adversity and the importance of having people in your corner. You won’t want to miss this one!

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer

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00:00:00 Speaker 1

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed on youth voice amplified are those of the hosts and the guests and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the current county Superintendent Schools Office. Any content provided by our guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, school organization, company, individual.

00:00:20 Speaker 1

Or anyone or anything.

00:00:22 Speaker 2

Youth voice amplified covers a wide range of topics that could be upsetting to some listeners. Content warning for each episode, and links to resources can be found in this episode. Show notes for the purposes of maintaining confidentiality, names, and some identifiable characteristics of our storytellers.

00:00:37 Speaker 2

Have been changed.

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But their voices and their stories are real.

00:00:41 Speaker 1

When young people share their stories, they can change the world. But some youth voices still go unheard. Join me, janessa Fisher.

00:00:49 Speaker 2

And me, Brian Johnson, for this youth LED monthly interview series as Young people tell their untold stories of experiences with homelessness, foster care disabilities, teen parenting and more.

00:00:59 Speaker 1

Each conversation will uncover stories of hope strength from our youth storytellers who want to share the best ways that we can all support youth in similar situations as theirs. If you want to know how to do better for youth or simply just be inspired, this is your show. Every youth has a story to tell.

00:01:15 Speaker 2

Are you ready to listen?

00:01:19 Speaker 1

Hey everyone and welcome back to youth voice amplified the podcast where every youth is heard and every voice matters. I'm your host janessa.

00:01:25 Speaker 2

And I'm Brian. In this episode, we'll be talking with the youth advocate and his experience of homelessness. He will be sharing his story of adversity throughout his early life and how he continues to keep pushing.

00:01:34 Speaker 1

Forward. But before we jump into today's episode, we want to take a moment and say that we hope everyone's doing well as we are at the.

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Beginning of the school semester, right, janessa. And before we get into today's episode, we would also like to thank our listeners for being supportive.

00:01:47 Speaker 2

As we continue to support youth sharing their stories of adversity.

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We thank you for all the support you have shown our podcast and our wonderful.

00:01:53 Speaker 2

Storytellers now please enjoy our conversation with James.

00:02:00 Speaker 1

James, welcome to youth Voice amplified podcast. We are so happy to have you.

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00:02:04 Speaker 3

Thank you. Thank you.

00:02:05 Speaker 3

For having me, thanks for coming on.

00:02:07 Speaker 1

As you know, we like to throw a little icebreaker at our guests to let the audience get to know them a little bit. So your question today is, what is at the top of?

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Your bucket list.

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To get money to get rich? Yeah, that's the top of the bucket list. That's the first thing.

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How rich we talking? You said rich different definition, rich.

00:02:30 Speaker 3

I need like Jeff Bezos I need.

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I need billions.

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Top of the top of the.

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World rich, yes.

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What would you do with that kind?

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Money. We'll buy a house. I want to get.

00:02:43 Speaker 3

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Farm. Yeah, kind of animals not growing animals. Honestly, I want some horses. You like two horses.

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Do you have names for your horses already?

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Black and white.

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Black and White, will they be black and white?

00:03:01 Speaker 3

The White 1 is going to be named black. The black is gonna be named white. Perfect.

00:03:05 Speaker 1

That's that's hilarious.

00:03:07 Speaker 2

James, we also like to ask our guests what does your voice mean to you?

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00:03:12 Speaker 3

Voice is hearing the thoughts and needs of young the younger generation. People like people underneath this that's dealing with stuff right now.

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Hearing their needs and desires, like what they actually need to get better to do.

00:03:24 Speaker 2

Better great definition getting into your childhood. Can you tell us about your family life and childhood growing up?

00:03:30 Speaker 3

Growing up, I did a lot of moving around.

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00:03:33 Speaker 3

I moved. I lived in LA. I moved all over, so I didn't really make, like, keep it nice. Click of friends, really. But it wasn't bad. It wasn't the greatest, but I survived.

00:03:46 Speaker 2

How did that make you feel like just your childhood just bouncing around everywhere?

00:03:49 Speaker 3

It didn't like it because I wasn't able to make friends, but it wasn't bad because I got to see different places. I got to go around, visit different locations. I would always lived in Marina del Rey, Inglewood, Torrance.

00:04:03 Speaker 3

Santa Clarita Lancaster, but I wish I wish I did. Like stay at one spot and grow up in that spot and like leave rather than bouncing around, not getting to like, settle down and like, meet people and really make friends.

00:04:19 Speaker 1

Do you feel like that stability would have changed your childhood?

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00:04:24 Speaker 3

Yeah, probably feel like it could.

00:04:28 Speaker 3

Could have changed it. I don't know if it.

00:04:29 Speaker 3

Would been for.

00:04:30 Speaker 3

The better or worse, but it would have, it would have been different because I probably would have still been hanging out with the people. Probably could make the right decisions.

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Happy I didn't.

00:04:40 Speaker 1

What was your your life like in middle school? So as you progressed in the years, what did it turn into?

00:04:46 Speaker 3

In middle school and I just.

00:04:49 Speaker 3

Since I was moving around a lot, I like I was just going to different schools too, so I went to about like 3 different middle schools, 3-4 different middle schools within the within the first like year. You know, like the first year was switching schools.

00:05:05 Speaker 3

Have friends made a lot of friends, but I don't. I I still don't keep in contact with them. Showed me a lot of stuff and middle school did show me a lot. I went to school out in Torrance, CA and then I switched to.

00:05:18 Speaker 3

Marina del Rey by the beach.

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But it wasn't to me. It was too far from like what my people actually was. Or all ship like felt like I should have been.

00:05:28 Speaker 3

Over in school, like you mentioned, bouncing around a lot was.

00:05:31 Speaker 2

It can. You can.

00:05:33 Speaker 2

You pretty much share with us. Why were you bouncing?

00:05:35 Speaker 2

Around so much.

00:05:36 Speaker 3

I lived in my own in my own. Like she'll move me around a lot. So like I didn't get into trouble. Or if I did get into trouble, she, like, move me from that area to keep me out of trouble, to keep me from getting into more trouble. That's why.

00:05:46 Speaker 3

I moved around a lot. Got.

00:05:47 Speaker 2

Into a lot of mischief. Can you explain to some of the challenges you face as a student while experiencing like that kind of bounce?

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00:05:57 Speaker 3

School was hard. I didn't like. I didn't like. I had to transfer credit, stuff like that. School was hard, like like being able to keep up with the learning. And I'll go to a different school and then, like, they'll be farther ahead. Really, then, like, what they was teaching at the other school, stuff like that.

00:06:14 Speaker 3

Teachers wasn't like, really, like helping me out because I didn't know me like, yeah.

00:06:19 Speaker 1

Do you feel like you moving a lot like really impacted your education?

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I feel like if I didn't move around, I probably would have graduated high school, so I graduated. I'm trying. I'm going for it right now. I'm about to go to try and get my GED. I'm finished, I.

00:06:32 Speaker 3

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My school diploma, but if I feel like if I start if I stayed at one spot, I would have been able.

00:06:38 Speaker 3

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I would have been able to finish out my school.

00:06:42 Speaker 2

What do you falling behind from moving so much? Do you think there was anything that they could have done to help you, you know, get you back on track at the time when you were in middle school?

00:06:51 Speaker 3

Like tutors, tutors could have helped. My mom went to like, my work that night, so I didn't like. I wasn't really doing my homework. Somebody help me do my homework or, like, tell me to do my homework. Probably would help to more guidance. Like in that situation, like telling me that you need to finish school probably would help better.

00:07:07 Speaker 2

So no one at the school was like, hey, you need to do your work or you need to catch up or anything.

00:07:11 Speaker 3

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It was always really just.

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There isn't a no kid.

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Behind. So even if you fell in the class, they're gonna push you over to the next grade. You won't have enough credits to graduate, but they gonna put you into the 10th year for me there. They gonna they gonna still pass.

00:07:25 Speaker 2

You on the next school. So in your situation, do you feel like that did?

00:07:28 Speaker 2

More harm than good for you or.

00:07:29 Speaker 3

Yeah, yeah, probably because I had to. I have to go back and I have to remake up the credits.

00:07:34 Speaker 3

00:07:34 Speaker 3

Last year, while I'm also doing credits like this year, so yeah.

00:07:39 Speaker 2

You being in school and you bouncing around so much from housing stability, how did you feel like your teachers missed that sign if they didn't know already?

00:07:48 Speaker 3

Hmm. Probably just like not doing it like not turning homework. That was probably really it. I just didn't turn it homework. I'll be outside all.

00:07:54 Speaker 3

They can't do homework, and that's hard to do. That wasn't my main focus, was doing the homework.

00:08:00 Speaker 2

You worried about other things?

00:08:01 Speaker 3

00:08:01 Speaker 1

You did you feel different from other students?

00:08:04 Speaker 3

Not really. I knew some other students like who has, like housing struggles too. So I just tried to when I went to school, I tried to keep like the school like like not separate, but uh, it's a school from. I got to come here. I'm gonna. I'm not gonna mention how my home, my house situation. I'm not going to talk about but I'll be dealing with at home. I'm not like I'm.

00:08:24 Speaker 3

00:08:24 Speaker 3

Cool to like, talk to friends. Really. I was just having fun, so I didn't. I just tried not to bring my my struggles or my bad stuff like that type of vibe. And to my when I went to school because when I went to school.

00:08:38 Speaker 3

00:08:38 Speaker 3

To have fun family, rather than being out like when I'm outside of school, I was just like surviving.

00:08:44 Speaker 3

00:08:46 Speaker 1

Do you feel like it would been more beneficial if you had let the school?

00:08:48 Speaker 1

Know your situation a little bit.

00:08:52 Speaker 3

I don't know what they would have did because the school, like the school I went to, was in Torrance and was in Midori. So like, I don't know how they would have handled the situation, feel better for myself, I feel like keeping myself safe was better than putting myself out there and telling them how what what I.

00:09:08 Speaker 2

Got to go through. Did anyone try to ask you any questions? Like oh, you know, pull you into the site?

00:09:13 Speaker 2

He was office like, hey, what's going on? You know, about your personal life or anything or no one paid any?

00:09:18 Speaker 2

Attention to it, no.

00:09:20 Speaker 1

Do you think it's because you bounced around so much you were just like?

00:09:23 Speaker 1

Not anybody's top.

00:09:24 Speaker 3

Priority probably, but also try like to stay out there. I try to stay out the mix.

00:09:29 Speaker 3

00:09:32 Speaker 3

Like I was at school. Like, I tried not to get into trouble. I didn't really want the teachers or the the principal. Like, really even know who I was like.

00:09:40 Speaker 3

It's easier hour.

00:09:41 Speaker 2

You're moving around so much. Did you get a sense of comfort from any of the schools you went to like, hey, I'm just now getting settled in, and now I'm moving again. Did you feel any of that kind of when you were at school?

00:09:54 Speaker 3

Yeah, most of the schools cause, like, I didn't make friends is it was a friendship to where like I don't plan it being long term. I'm gonna know you here. I ain't gonna know you if I move in high school. I'm not gonna know you either. So yeah, but I didn't really keep in touch with a lot of people.

00:10:07 Speaker 2

So you're already anticipated moving as soon as you got stories like I know I'm.

00:10:10 Speaker 2

00:10:10 Speaker 3

Here long, I'm not even just like moving. Just like just not be at that school long. Not go. We're not going out on the outside cause like when I lived, when I went to school. And the rate I was my middle school, I lived all the way Inglewood still. So I'd hop on the bus and then go.

00:10:12 Speaker 3

00:10:25 Speaker 3

All the way to LA, I mean all the way to the beach.

00:10:27 Speaker 3

And then have to hop on the bus and all the way back to.

00:10:29 Speaker 3

Central. I'm not. Go see the people I saw at the school. Because who did we? We don't live near each other.

00:10:34 Speaker 1

With that being like how you saw school, did you kind of think like, what's the point of educate like of continuing education, of doing homework if we're just going to move again, if we're just going to bounce around schools, was that kind of like?

00:10:45 Speaker 3

You're thinking like what? What's the point where I went to, I had to go to school, but it was more of a.

00:10:54 Speaker 3

So I'm it wasn't my main focus was wasn't to get the work done. I do know I need the education.

00:10:59 Speaker 3

But I can get the education and still not graduate. I I'm sending the class, still learning everything I need to learn even if I don't graduate or don't have like get a diploma. So when I went to school like I did my class work or I had somebody else do my class work, homework, homework, homework was like, yeah, my last focus. And then when I got to high school.

00:11:20 Speaker 3

I went to like 3 different high schools, so even in high school wasn't my focus like my focus was still probably my focus was still the same as when I was in middle school.

00:11:29 Speaker 2

Sepha transitioning to high school, what was your life like?

00:11:32 Speaker 3

In high school, I went to three to three different high schools, 3 or 4. My first one I went to, I got kicked out because like fighting, fighting gang violence, I lived in Englewood. I was at Englewood High. The second school I went to, it was it was like a charter school. It was a charter school. So, like, it was more suited, like, you got to wear uniform everyday.

00:11:53 Speaker 3

We got security guards type for me. They have like metal detectors. Like the first squad ones who did the first ones, they have metal detectors that didn't work. But from high school.

00:12:07 Speaker 3

Moving around, it was just I just I got drunk a lot in high school. Honestly, I did get drunk. A lot of high school. I tried to have like, more extracurricular activities. I did Boy Scouts, I did football.

00:12:21 Speaker 3

Basketball. I did a lot of sports, but.

00:12:25 Speaker 3

It was my my focus still wasn't the education. Yeah. So I did my homework, but I'm not. I'm not focused on graduating. I really wasn't focused on graduating when I.

00:12:35 Speaker 3

00:12:36 Speaker 2

You mentioned like you were fighting and like you know, there was a lot of gangs and things like that. Was that just the culture of the schools you were going to in Englewood and?

00:12:40 Speaker 3

00:12:43 Speaker 3

Things like that. Yeah. The first school I went to Englewood High, it's like, so it's like, right in the game.

00:12:49 Speaker 3

00:12:50 Speaker 4

00:12:50 Speaker 3

So there is a lot of gaming but and then they have like me, I'm not. I don't, I don't bang, but they have me in there.

00:12:57 Speaker 3

I'm gonna wear or I'm gonna wear whatever car I want, but people gonna press the issues, people will be mad about certain things.

00:13:04 Speaker 3

The second school I went to was a charter school, so they made they did the uniform policy to avoid the gang culture, the fights, they shoot the colors.

00:13:10 Speaker 2

The gang culture.

00:13:15 Speaker 3

Everybody wore black and Gray like black and khaki, so that was like.

00:13:19 Speaker 3

But even those people, like when I did, I did football for them too. It was just even a lot of those people I know, like right now, they gave Members right now. So like it was still even at the Charter school it was.

00:13:30 Speaker 3

00:13:30 Speaker 3

That type of lifestyle, but it was just let's see, because the Charter school is run by a church, it's funded by the church. So they got they they the school tries to hold up a certain.

00:13:40 Speaker 3

Image but that's not really the image it has.

00:13:44 Speaker 2

So they kind of just try to lessen like how they displayed the gang culture, so it's like.

00:13:49 Speaker 2

Wearing these solid colors, these little black and.

00:13:52 Speaker 3

Trying to make it less noticeable that they're like.

00:13:56 Speaker 3

But it was still present in the school, yeah.

00:13:56 Speaker 2

00:13:59 Speaker 1

Did you enjoy when you played sports in school?

00:14:02 Speaker 3

Yeah, I did. It was fine. Yeah, I was a good memory. I have a school like it was team bonding. I still talked to some of those people. I actually went to high school with because that's like, that was my hometown. So, but not as.

00:14:14 Speaker 3

00:14:15 Speaker 3

Not as much, but I still like send me a text on Instagram or something.

00:14:18 Speaker 3

It's birthday. Happy birthday bro.

00:14:21 Speaker 3

00:14:22 Speaker 3

Some people be telling me, like, if you come out to LA, we can hang out. We should link up.

00:14:28 Speaker 3

We'll see. We'll see.

00:14:34 Speaker 1

Hey there, amazing listeners. Before we continue, we want to take a moment to recognize all the young people out there who have triumphed over adversity. You know who you.

00:14:41 Speaker 4

Are our youth Voice Amplify podcast is all about celebrating the strength and resilience of young people like you. We believe your experiences can inspire and empower others who might be facing similar challenges.

00:14:51 Speaker 1

So if you have a story to tell and want to be a guest on our show, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. You can find us on Instagram at youth Voice Amplified podcast.

00:14:59 Speaker 1

Or drop us an e-mail in the youth voice amplified at Gmail dot.

00:15:03 Speaker 4

Com together. Let's amplify your voice and share the.

00:15:06 Speaker 4

Power of your journey.

00:15:07 Speaker 4

Remember, your voice matters and your story can change lives. We can't wait to hear from you and share your remarkable story with the world. Thank you for being a part of our youth voice amplified community. Now let's get back to our episode.

00:15:15 Speaker 1

00:15:20 Speaker 2

Did your situation regarding your housing instability ever affect your attendance at school?

00:15:26 Speaker 3

Not really. It was just because, like, no matter what, my mom's gonna tell me. I gotta get out the house and go to school. I wasn't like I didn't care about ditching. Especially like when I'm when.

00:15:36 Speaker 3

00:15:38 Speaker 3

When I was going to Englewood High, I did ditch a lot. When I went to animal Inglewood Charter, it was more like I was actually at school almost everyday.

00:15:48 Speaker 3

Yeah, I moved to Santa Clarita. I moved to Santa Clarita and even there I went. I was at school every day. I I was in class. I didn't really skip class like sometimes I did. But it wasn't a big like, it wasn't a on a regular.

00:16:00 Speaker 3

00:16:03 Speaker 3

I went to a continuation of school out there in Santa Cruz also.

00:16:07 Speaker 3

00:16:08 Speaker 3

I went to school just I went to school high or drunk, so probably like college.

00:16:15 Speaker 2

What was the biggest challenge you faced during this time of high school?

00:16:20 Speaker 3

I'm not really sure.

00:16:22 Speaker 3

I'm like, sure, but I didn't really like have challenge. It wasn't high school, wasn't challenging really. So I probably just like to study. It was probably my biggest challenge in school period period, just remembering the knowledge like of the homework and the stuff I learn. I'm not really good at remembering things like name, even names. I'll be forgetting I remember face but like certain things I can remember.

00:16:42 Speaker 3

So if if you be show me something like I have to write it down and remember it's not. It's not gonna stick. So that was probably my my hardest part of high school school period, which is remembering the the learning that.

00:16:54 Speaker 3

00:16:55 Speaker 1

I know you said in middle school you didn't really have that adult supporter in high school. Is it any different, maybe like a coach or a teacher that took interest in you or?

00:17:02 Speaker 1

Just someone that supported you.

00:17:04 Speaker 3

Not really, not really like an adult supporters like to my friends, if anything. But that's it. Like even like my coaches, I didn't tell them like my situation.

00:17:17 Speaker 1

Is it just that you didn't want to mix your life, your social life?

00:17:20 Speaker 1

00:17:21 Speaker 3

00:17:21 Speaker 1

Your home life, essentially.

00:17:23 Speaker 3

Yeah, basically.

00:17:26 Speaker 2

What was your mentality about not like mixing the school life in your home life?

00:17:31 Speaker 1

Like, why was that?

00:17:33 Speaker 3

Because like when I'm at home with even I'm bored, I'm not having fun. I'm just tired. I'm lazy.

00:17:40 Speaker 3

When I say depressed but it sometimes it will get to that point like like I don't want to be at home so. But when I was at school, I got to worry about nothing really. It was more of a I.

00:17:50 Speaker 3

00:17:50 Speaker 3

More free. I felt at school.

00:17:52 Speaker 3

Day, even at home.

00:17:54 Speaker 1

Do you feel like if you had someone like a consistent person supporting you and being there for you throughout your middle school and high school years, it would have been different for your education?

00:18:07 Speaker 1

Like someone consistent saying it, you need to go do your homework. You need to.

00:18:10 Speaker 3

Do this. You need to do that. Yeah, I probably would have graduated already. Probably would have had more like 52 credits behind. It's like a semester.

00:18:19 Speaker 3

So I feel I feel like yeah, but like, somebody was telling me, like, to actually do my homework, I would have had all those.

00:18:24 Speaker 3

Points done already.

00:18:27 Speaker 2

So you were pretty much the the kid who didn't really have that guidance and you had to.

00:18:30 Speaker 2

Kind of go off.

00:18:32 Speaker 2

Off your own kind of mentality and just you didn't have no one to push you at all. So like you didn't have the parent to be like, hey, you need to do your homework so you can graduate or the teacher saying.

00:18:33 Speaker 3

00:18:36 Speaker 3

00:18:41 Speaker 2

If you do your homework, you'll get a good grade and like.

00:18:43 Speaker 3

00:18:44 Speaker 1

You really didn't understand that if you didn't do this, you wouldn't get.

00:18:47 Speaker 1

00:18:48 Speaker 3

Yeah. And basically.

00:18:50 Speaker 2

Do you feel like nowadays with in school that they're, do you think, do you feel like it's more of the same or they're probably implementing those kind of things now?

00:18:58 Speaker 3

Nowadays I feel like they are more. They are giving kids more help with school, like to finish and graduate than they used to. They got so many like little mentor programs like tutoring.

00:19:09 Speaker 3

00:19:10 Speaker 3

You can go to your teacher after school and get help like that. You can actually like some teachers that you e-mail them like through the through like through emails. They got the a lot of stuff is also.

00:19:21 Speaker 3

00:19:21 Speaker 3

Too. So like even like you could do school from online, do all your homework online if.

00:19:26 Speaker 3

00:19:26 Speaker 3

Like graduate, they still be like a real high school diploma.

00:19:31 Speaker 2

So it's a lot more resources now to help kids graduate and do well.

00:19:33 Speaker 3

00:19:35 Speaker 1

Yeah. So you talked about your life in LA, how?

00:19:38 Speaker 1

00:19:38 Speaker 3

To Bakersfield. I'll move me out here right after high school. Like I didn't when I was supposed to graduate. But I didn't graduate. So, like, right after high school went home with me out here. I was like 1819 years old.

00:19:51 Speaker 3

And I we elevator on the South like South, southwest. Like, far over there. And it was good. It was good for for a little bit. My car and my aunt got, like, sick. And my mom had got out of jail. She can't move with us too. And it was bad. It wasn't so much good. Little argue.

00:20:11 Speaker 3

Then I had left the city for a little bit. I went back to LA, came back. My stuff was in the living room, like that, about kicking me out. Luckily, I was able to get my stuff there, but I was barely even there after that, like I was like leaving more than I was. I I wasn't there more than I was there. I just have my stuff there. It was like.

00:20:31 Speaker 3

My mother moved back to LA and my aunt moved out. My mother moved to LA 1st and I'm still like her. My aunt and my aunt got really sick and when she moved back out like I had.

00:20:41 Speaker 3

00:20:42 Speaker 3

An apartment out here. When she moved back out to LA, she had, like a week after she moved out there she had she had passed.

00:20:49 Speaker 3

So I was basically just stuck out here. Yeah, so now I'm Bakersfield boy.

00:20:53 Speaker 2

You've been here ever since. There hasn't been a.

00:20:54 Speaker 2

Transition back to LA.

00:20:55 Speaker 3

00:20:57 Speaker 3

Gone there for visits, but other than now I just I've lived out here for 4/4.

00:21:00 Speaker 3

00:21:01 Speaker 1

Now, do you want to move back to LA? Ever?

00:21:03 Speaker 3

00:21:04 Speaker 2

What's the major difference between LA and Bakersfield?

00:21:07 Speaker 3

To you, the drivers.

00:21:15 Speaker 3

It's Bakersfield is not bad, it's cheaper. So it's a it's a cheaper like cost of living. It's not hard to get, like, get. It's not as expensive as LA to live out here, but it's still just as hard to live out here. Uh.

00:21:26 Speaker 2

00:21:32 Speaker 3

It's hard to find a job to even get an apartment. It's hard to to get to work if you ain't got a car, but then you also need to build credit and all like it's just so much stuff that builds up to being able to survive and live. It's cheaper out here. The bigger it's cheaper out here to LA. So yeah, I would stay out.

00:21:50 Speaker 3

But if I had enough money, I would go back.

00:21:52 Speaker 1

To her, I'm sorry for the loss of your aunt, she.

00:21:54 Speaker 1

Seemed like a really big supporter in your life.

00:21:56 Speaker 2

Would you say that was your only supporter in?

00:21:57 Speaker 3

Your life? Yeah, my mom that went to jail when I was like, 8-8 years.

00:22:01 Speaker 3

00:22:02 Speaker 3

So from 8 to 18 I was with.

00:22:06 Speaker 3

00:22:07 Speaker 3

We was moving around, I was kicked out.

00:22:10 Speaker 3

Gotta go for stay with friends for like couple of months. But besides that, I was with my aunt. She she she raised me the best she could even if it wasn't the best way possible.

00:22:23 Speaker 2

Yeah, with your aunt being the new person taking care of you. Was there any other family members that kind of was trying?

00:22:29 Speaker 2

To support her.

00:22:30 Speaker 2

Like, hey, that's great. You're supporting. You know, we're going to support you guys.

00:22:34 Speaker 3

As well have some people like kind of, but not really.

00:22:39 Speaker 3

A lot of some of my family have two sides of my family. Some of them are stuck up. Other side is like more ghetto hood oriented. They supported me more than like good side of my family. One of my some of my families like worked at Universal Studios, stuff like that became.

00:22:59 Speaker 3

One of them became a police.

00:23:00 Speaker 3

00:23:01 Speaker 2

00:23:01 Speaker 3

Good house. They they do get they.

00:23:03 Speaker 3

00:23:05 Speaker 3

When I was struggling, they wasn't like they didn't really like, wasn't really there to help me. So even now, even to this day, I still don't even talk to some of the like to certain people in my family. That whole side of my family who like more, not be stuck up. I don't really talk to.

00:23:10 Speaker 4

00:23:21 Speaker 2

So they just saw you as.

00:23:22 Speaker 2

00:23:23 Speaker 2

The bad egg of the family and didn't want to talk to you necessarily, or even support you at all. And your aunt was.

00:23:25 Speaker 3

00:23:28 Speaker 3

They it's like they they put me in the category with the side of my family. That's not like more oriented hood oriented because they don't even go there and talk to them a lot. Like it's like it was barely.

00:23:40 Speaker 3

Only reason why they would at first we'll go over there and talk to them is because they're like their mother is their sister. So like they're. Yeah. And my great aunt, my grandmother.

00:23:53 Speaker 3

Is the twin. He has a twin, and that's that's the right side of my families. Like, that's their mother type. Yeah.

00:24:03 Speaker 3

That's their mother.

00:24:04 Speaker 2

Was there ever a point in time where you wish like that side of the family like your family would get along? Like I wish you guys would, you know, just accept me as family instead of seeing just kind of you guys just divide the family and just kind of being over there and thinking we're this and you guys.

00:24:11 Speaker 3

00:24:19 Speaker 3

Were that felt that before that way. But it's not like I could do anything.

00:24:24 Speaker 3

They they really they they don't, they don't have their own thoughts, no matter what they're gonna see.

00:24:28 Speaker 3

00:24:28 Speaker 3

Going to do what they do, my best my money, I can really do. Just take care of myself and worry about how myself really.

00:24:37 Speaker 1

So you've been in Bakersfield, was there anything significant that kept you here?

00:24:46 Speaker 3

Well, I had a kid, so.

00:24:49 Speaker 3

Right now I'm still really out here because my son lives out here. So my dad, my son, don't live out here.

00:24:53 Speaker 3

I probably wouldn't be out here either.

00:24:56 Speaker 2

How has becoming a parent changed your?

00:24:59 Speaker 3

Become a parent and.

00:25:02 Speaker 3

For that it made me work harder, like change, like you said, like not ever want to even get a job. Now I'm gonna like job searching for me. I get the house so I could, like, get got to get a house so I can see my son more so I can stay with my son to have my son live with me if possible.

00:25:18 Speaker 3

Maybe more like I don't know how to say coming to parent made me more of a like more of a man. I feel like like I got to step up to the plate now for me, I got somebody that go look up to me that that's that's part of me. So I got to be the better than me than I was.

00:25:35 Speaker 3

Before, when I was like doing dumb when I was doing dumb stuff, I can't do that. No more. Can't go to jail. Hmm.

00:25:42 Speaker 1

What has been the biggest challenge of parenthood so?

00:25:45 Speaker 1

00:25:46 Speaker 3

It's expensive.

00:25:48 Speaker 3

It is. It's very sure. Well, it's reality. Yes, it's very expensive cost more than the car. Yeah.

00:25:49 Speaker 1

00:25:55 Speaker 3

00:25:57 Speaker 3

Yeah, that's probably the hardest challenge is with and not having a place to stay is also kind of hard. I can't bring my son with me from like can't come do visits at my house. I gotta go there. I gotta go there, wherever they at.

00:26:11 Speaker 3

So I gotta go to her house like, cause I I don't have a house for them to come to.

00:26:14 Speaker 3

00:26:14 Speaker 3

Kind of difficult, but that's my first step around to give me an apartment or something so I couldn't. So I have my son back over. If I can get him a.

00:26:22 Speaker 3

Little room or corner.

00:26:25 Speaker 2

Works. What advice would you give other young parents?

00:26:30 Speaker 3

Start saving for college.

00:26:32 Speaker 3

Start saving for college. If you start now, by the time they're in college, man, they better be able to pay for it. Now you.

00:26:33 Speaker 1

That's a good one.

00:26:35 Speaker 2

That it sounded is.

00:26:40 Speaker 3

Got retirement fund?

00:26:42 Speaker 3

If they get a scholarship at the end of the at the end, you ain't got to give them the college fund. You got the scholarship. You can use that on on vacations.

00:26:52 Speaker 1

00:26:53 Speaker 1

You, as a community advocate, you are specifically an advocate for homeless youth.

00:26:59 Speaker 1

What advice do you have for you who are listening and who want to make a positive change in their?

00:27:03 Speaker 1

Community like you have.

00:27:05 Speaker 3

Start going to like meetings, like if they if they have like board meetings or community. Uh, I don't know what.

00:27:12 Speaker 3

00:27:14 Speaker 3

What they call, you know, they call.

00:27:16 Speaker 1

Like community like town halls.

00:27:17 Speaker 3

Town hall meetings, stuff like that. Start going to low so you can give your input your thought process to how to make clean up the street and make the street better.

00:27:26 Speaker 2

From your experience as both a young person experiencing homelessness and now as an advocate, what would you say are some of the most common misconceptions regarding homeless youth?

00:27:36 Speaker 3

They're on drugs.

00:27:40 Speaker 3

They just they they ask for money a lot. They don't do nothing. I know some homeless youth who who go out, walk down the street all day long and knock on doors to paint curbs, like to paint the numbers on the curb. That's a that's a good one, just to make like just to survive, to get a hotel room every day. So you're not sleeping on the street. He'll go every day and paint the curb.

00:28:01 Speaker 3

They have no like they have no ambition. I feel like they don't want to get better. They just they want to be out here on the street. That's not really how it is.

00:28:09 Speaker 3

We we we didn't we got put here. This wasn't like our choice to be on the street. Like something happened in our life. And this is where we.

00:28:17 Speaker 1

Are now the youth on the street that they have that ambition. Then they want to get better, they.

00:28:23 Speaker 1

00:28:23 Speaker 3

00:28:23 Speaker 1

Better looking back on the experiences you went through in school, what advice do you have for teachers and schools who are listening?

00:28:30 Speaker 3

Actually listen to your kid like to the kids. Like, if they do tell you something, don't try to be like, Oh yeah, it's not that bad. Like, listen to what they gotta say.

00:28:38 Speaker 3

Five years ago, like free, like counselors like.

00:28:43 Speaker 3

And a lot of schools do need more counselors or better counselors because a lot of them don't.

00:28:49 Speaker 3

00:28:52 Speaker 2

Do you feel like the the ones that are listening to their students? Do you feel like a lot of them are taking actions behind?

00:28:59 Speaker 2

That listening.

00:29:05 Speaker 3

Like when I was in school, some teachers like do like like little food, like give out food bags and stuff like they we did. Like, we went out one day like and passed out food like to homeless people. Like for the with the teacher.

00:29:18 Speaker 2

So you guys were doing community work with the students and things?

00:29:20 Speaker 3

00:29:21 Speaker 1

Like that, do you feel like you would? You wish that teachers and counselors would ask?

00:29:24 Speaker 1

More questions? Yeah.

00:29:26 Speaker 1

To the youth that are maybe like struggling a little bit more with their grades or at.

00:29:29 Speaker 1

Least being a little more like.

00:29:30 Speaker 3

Yeah. If you see it like, yeah, I yeah, I do wish they would ask my question. Like, if you see a kid struggling with their homework or assignments, you like, ask them, why ask them if they.

00:29:39 Speaker 3

Tell and like, listen to them. What they got to say, cause they might tell you like, yeah, I'm. I ain't been able to my heart because I'm.

00:29:45 Speaker 2

Homeless, what would you say about the students? Like, kind of like you said you didn't want to tell the teachers or anybody about your life. How can they help those students that kind of don't want to mention that?

00:29:59 Speaker 3

00:30:01 Speaker 3

I don't, I don't know. It's kind of hard because if somebody doesn't want to talk about it like you can't.

00:30:04 Speaker 3

Force them really, but.

00:30:06 Speaker 2

Do you think eventually, like they'll give in?

00:30:07 Speaker 3

Or anything, yeah. Or anything like make it just. You can put posters up, make actual like, a statement not just to the student himself, but like to an entire class.

00:30:16 Speaker 3

Yeah, so I help out.

00:30:18 Speaker 1

So I don't feel so singled out.

00:30:19 Speaker 3

00:30:20 Speaker 1

Do you think maybe just like constantly supporting the student?

00:30:24 Speaker 1

I think a lot of the times we see youth that they really enjoy or they really admire when a teacher or counselor is consistent.

00:30:34 Speaker 1

Whether it be like I'm going to tell you my situation or.

00:30:36 Speaker 1

Not they enjoyed it. A very consistency.

00:30:39 Speaker 2

What would you say to you who are currently going through the same situations as you did? What words of wisdom?

00:30:44 Speaker 2

Can you share with them?

00:30:45 Speaker 3

For like be more accepted and be more open.

00:30:48 Speaker 3

Like, don't be just to yourself or like excluding yourself. You can like, open up and tell people about your situation, right? They're hiding it. Because if you open up, you might be able to get better, like more help get.

00:31:00 Speaker 2

Better would you say that was like one of your biggest regrets going into school? Like I wish I spoke.

00:31:03 Speaker 3

00:31:05 Speaker 2

00:31:05 Speaker 3

Yeah, I feel like if I did speak up, I.

00:31:06 Speaker 3

Probably would have got more help. What are your goals moving forward?

00:31:13 Speaker 3

I'm trying to get a job right now and.

00:31:16 Speaker 3

Trying to get a job in the car. Well, I have a car. I need to get the car fixed, but I'm trying to get a job so I can pay to get the car fixed. I'm about to be at the fair working up the fair, so that's good.

00:31:27 Speaker 3

And then after the fair, if I get the job fixed, I'm about to try and either do Instacart or DoorDash again.

00:31:32 Speaker 3

00:31:32 Speaker 3

To do that, umm, but also have a job interview tomorrow for like a door to door, a door to door surveyor and to get people the information like thoughts about lowering food prices and they said they pay hourly, not Commission. So I need that.

00:31:47 Speaker 1

How do you envision your future? Despite the current challenges you're facing?

00:31:54 Speaker 3

Flag I have a blooming blossoming feature for like flag I got. I got a lot of good opportunities to do better. So if I take those opportunities I don't get better I can. So that's my my thought process right now. If I keep on trying, I'm going to eventually get to where I I need to.

00:32:12 Speaker 3

00:32:13 Speaker 2

How do you keep pushing despite all the challenges you went through from as a kid till now? Like, how do you keep that mentality going and keep?

00:32:20 Speaker 4

00:32:21 Speaker 3

I just think I I can never. You can never give up. Especially now. I got a son for sure can give up because if he sees me give up that's showing the bad except for him. He might think like it's OK to give up. He don't ever want to put that that thought into nobody's head. That.

00:32:34 Speaker 3

It's OK to give, but got to always try.

00:32:37 Speaker 3

You gotta always try. You gotta always put your your best effort, your best foot forward.

00:32:42 Speaker 3

00:32:43 Speaker 1

Before we wrap things up, we would like to ask you our signature question is do you have a?

00:32:47 Speaker 1

Life motto question.

00:32:48 Speaker 2

00:32:51 Speaker 3

Yeah, I have. I do have a model. Check out the tattooed so I can remember.

00:32:58 Speaker 3

You gotta just work hard. I feel like that's that's the best model in life. Work hard and never give up.

00:33:03 Speaker 3

Work hard. You gotta work hard now. So you ain't gotta work hard later. Basically saying get everything you need to do. Done now. So when it comes time to relax, you ain't got to worry about anything. Not everything already situated.

00:33:16 Speaker 1

So you can actually relax, yeah.

00:33:19 Speaker 1

That is very awesome. I like.

00:33:20 Speaker 1

That life motto.

00:33:20 Speaker 2

Great model. Sit there in the pool.

00:33:23 Speaker 3

With the cup holder, why the fiber?

00:33:25 Speaker 1

Bye then. Just bye then, James. Thank you so much for joining us on our podcast and sharing your truly remarkable story. I admire your courage and your honesty. Your journey of overcoming homelessness and now dedicating yourself to helping others is nothing short of inspiring.

00:33:39 Speaker 3

Thank you for having me.

00:33:41 Speaker 2

I also like to thank you, James as well for sharing your story and sharing your advice with you that are ones like you and it's honestly inspiring to see that you never give up and that your son is that point of your life where you're like, I got to do this for him. So I really appreciate that.

00:33:56 Speaker 1

00:33:57 Speaker 1

I think that you have a really good head on your shoulders and I think a lot of people tend to have this type of stereotype to people who have experienced homelessness, or maybe you don't tell people that and you just hear what they think about homelessness and it's negative. So seeing somebody so positive saying that I'm going to continue, I'm going to continue to keep trying whatever.

00:34:17 Speaker 1

I don't care about what these people think about me.

00:34:19 Speaker 1

Don't care about whatever's going on is like I'm gonna keep trying. I'm gonna keep doing the hard work so I can get to the point where I can relax.

00:34:26 Speaker 1

00:34:26 Speaker 1

Place. Yeah, it's truly remarkable cause a lot of people, they go through things and they just kind of throw in the towel. I think it's really inspiring that you continue to push.

00:34:35 Speaker 4

00:34:35 Speaker 2

Again, James, thank you for being our show.

00:34:37 Speaker 3

Thank you for having better.

00:34:39 Speaker 1

One of my favorite episodes.

00:34:41 Speaker 1

An absolutely amazing storyteller. I just. I love his drive to continue to keep pushing.

00:34:47 Speaker 2

I like how no matter like that he didn't get no support from the schools or from middle school and high school. No one was reaching out to support him or anything that he kind of keeps the mindset of to keep pushing forward and keep doing what he needs to do to succeed. And I like how he.

00:35:04 Speaker 2

Share that he hopes his story will change how the school approaches the youth, who are, who are not really as talkative and want to share their story.

00:35:12 Speaker 1

I like how it really was. He was very honest. It was I I definitely didn't feel any sugar coating there.

00:35:18 Speaker 2

He definitely kept realize. Ask him be so.

00:35:21 Speaker 1

Well, that's it for this episode of Youth Voice amplified. If you enjoy what you heard and want to support the show, please take a moment to rate US and leave a positive review on your favorite podcast player. It will help us spread awareness of the podcast and find new.

00:35:33 Speaker 2

Listeners. And if you're looking for our show notes or recommended resources for any of our episodes, please visit our website at www.kern.org/Y.

00:35:42 Speaker 2

00:35:43 Speaker 2

If you have any questions, comments or concerns or would like to recommend a topic of guests, you can e-mail us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

00:35:52 Speaker 1

Join us for our next episode when Brian and I sit down with our next youth storyteller. Thanks for listening and see you next time.

00:35:58 Speaker 2

And we're out of here.

00:36:04 Speaker 5

Youth voice amplified is a youth LED project at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office created, produced and hosted by Janessa Fisher and Brian Johnson with writing, research, and additional production support by Kim Silva, Allison Baptiste and the current educational television network. Major funding for the youth.

00:36:23 Speaker 5

Voice Amplified Podcast is provided by the student achievement and Support Division of the California Department of Education through the Homeless Innovative Program Grant. Thanks for listening.

People on this episode

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Brian Johnson

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Gennessa Fisher