As I was taking the tour at Homeboy Industries, our tour guide Marvin gave us his life story. His story was very profound and taught me the values of persistence and determination. He was a man who was sentenced to life plus 33 years of imprisonment without parole. This man looked like an ordinary person and I would not have guessed this was his past. He persisted to receive parole and was denied twice before finally being granted parole 32 years later. His story goes to show how your life can be turned around from the darkest places to a place you never thought you could thrive in. Without having any prior experience in LA, this experience helped me realize how different and unique people's experiences and pasts are and it is important to acknowledge them.
-Rushil
