Growing up in the south side of Chicago wasn't an easy task. You hear gunshots every night and see multiple innocent lives taken by gang members. As I got older, I felt the streets got worse. My parents were great parents and they installed leadership and responsibility in me. I believe I matured faster than most children my age because, I gave myself responsibility and motivation earlier than most. In the fifth grade I was introduced to basketball, one of the most memorable moments that made me who I am today. Another memorable moment would be, in eighth grade I graduated valedictorian. Now I just recently graduated high school, something most black male teens didn't do in my city. Those three moments I feel modded me into the man I am today and the man I will be in the future. I grew up in the projects where everyone looked out for one another, we were like a family. Before fifth grade, I was the kind of child who went to school, did homework, and played with toys and things of that nature. The start of my fifth grade year my uncle, who was the coach, asked me if I wanted to play basketball and I responded sure. From there, I worked in the gym and outside the gym. I stayed with a basketball in my hand wherever I went. It is almost like I made it my obligation to take whatever I do serious. Being on a basketball team gave me another family and a bond that I never knew I could have. Coach made everyone responsible for everyone on the team because we all were apart of one team. My parents always told me school was first and that everything else came second. I had done just that. I stayed with all A's and a starting position on the fifth and sixth grade team. My parents drilled responsibility and leadership in me and I carried that with me. I am the oldest of three siblings, so I was forced to obtain these qualities. I have never let anything stand in the way of my education that is why, I was named the valedictorian for my eighth g