Standouts - The Beat Within

TheBeatWithin.org
Page 27
Good Times
Most of the time in my cell is spent exercising or reading a book, but
even more of that time is spent in the past. I remember my father,
and I miss my mother… I am always looking forward to the next day,
but Tuesdays have always been one of my favorite days. Like the
song “Tuesdays gone with the wind”. But since my imprisonment,
my memories have made Sundays the most enjoyable, and I know a
song for that day to “Easy Like Sunday Morning.”
Yeah, that and plenty of other songs. I think of how time moves
on and before you know it I’ll be mowing my lawn drinking coffee
and playing with my dogs and watching the news with my dad. In the
afternoon I got plans. Time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on rolling,
good times outweigh the bad.
-Dopey
From The Beat: A positive attitude like this will not only help you get
through your time in the hall, but also through tough times and tough
temptations on the outs. What is the song that most reminds you of
freedom?
People Try And Put Me Down
People try and put me down
But I stand my ground keep walking with a crown
Attitude stay wild
Leave haters by a mile close ‘em up like a file
Leave ‘em in the junk pile,
That’s how I gets down, representing my town
That’s how I get down
I’m proud to be brown and I say out loud
Leave your mouth like how I leave yo’ face, like wow
Lay it up like yo’
Making this cheddar you can call me a cow
‘Cause it’s my money and I need it now.
-DeAndre
From The Beat: Don’t worry about getting a little money now, take all
your talent and skill and use it to get a real education, so that instead
of a little money now, you can get a lot of (legit) money later!
Sixteen And Going To The Pen
Something I can’t seem to get away from is the pain of not knowing
when I’m getting out. It’s kind of hard being sixteen in juvenile hall
and thinking I might be going to the pen.
I try to picture what it’s going to be like, but you can’t never
know until you get there.
-Marquis
From The Beat: Have you made any personal goals for yourself, in
terms of things you would want to accomplish while you are serving
your time? Because there’s so much you can’t control about the next
few years, but one thing you can control is how you use the time.
Standouts Alameda County Volume 17.01/02
Saved!
Have you ever been saved? Well, I have. Being saved to me means
accepting god as your Lord and Savior and trying to make changes
within your life the Christian way.
There was a time I got pregnant and I accepted God into my
heart. My parents grew up in a religious church. They showed my
brothers and sisters right from wrong. I always never listened to
my parents. My parents told me one thing, I did the opposite. But I
guess your mom is always telling you you’ll learn the hard way.
Well I think everyone in this world is born to sin. But it’s up to
you to make the choice to change your life and accept God to try to
make a Christian life and make a change for yourself. I have made
a couple bad sins as you can see. I’m in jail and to make matters
worse, I’m fourteen weeks pregnant.
I have read the bible every day since I’ve been here and that’s
ten weeks. I always attend church sessions, even when I’m in the
outs. At home I go to church. I want my kids to grow up in the
religious church.
-Fremont
From The Beat: What brought you to God after you got pregnant? Are
you starting to listen to your parents now? What kind of changes are
you trying to make with your life. Can you give us some examples?
Back Pain
My pain in my back won’t go away. I try to forget but it just stays. I
toss and turn and it won’t go away so I just stand in place and it goes
away. It happened during football, somebody elbow me in my side.
-Xavier
From The Beat: What happened during football? We’re sorry you don’t
feel well, hang in there!
All These Years
All these years won’t go away. The choices I made through life won’t
go away. Even though all my choices brought me here, I still don’t
want my choices to go away.
Throughout my whole life I kept it solid. Early in life all that
you got was friends and family. THAT will never go away. My faith
that I will come back home will never go away.
-Eyesee
From The Beat: Your past choices won’t go away. But you can control
your future choices, right? What do you have to do to make sure you
stay home once you go home?
Weed: Never Had A Bad High
I love smoking weed, I have never went overboard. I am so used to
smoking that it doesn’t affect the things I do. I actually think that
weed enhances my ability to do things. It seems like when I smoke
weed I have super powers.
-Trelly-Bo
From The Beat: The key word there is “seems.” One effect that weed
has (besides being illegal, which is a big effect right there if you’re
trying to stay out of the system), is that it can make it hard to stay
motivated and stay on task. Are you sure that all that smoking isn’t
affecting your motivation?
Who I Admire
Well, I admire Marylin Monroe. Why do I admire her? Well, it’s
because she’s pretty and she’s perfection, like she’s perfect. And
I love how she dresses and I mostly love how she always puts red
lipstick on. It’s so beautiful on her. Marylin Monroe died young and
died pretty.
- Litza
From The Beat: Have you read about her life? Have you seen her
movies? Do you want to be an actress?