As a child I was the odd one out

Wanting to be smart and learn non-stop

and people criticized and looked at me with such disgust and saw me as a threat.

I was not average sized I was more on the heavy size and it made me a victim.

Year after year I was chased and tossed down, beat to a point where blood ozzed from my wounds,

but each time I was put down I brought myself up and said Im not giving up!

They saw through that and it got worse

I told and spoke up about it but people turned thier heads,

my mother understood and took my troubles into her own hands,

but again they turned thier heads and said "boys will be boys" and thats what was said.

I was told to be a man at the age of 8 and little did I know what a man was about

but it didnt stop me from being one so young and understand the challenges to come.

Five whole years this occured and each time I was brought down, I stood up.

I never let myself become so low and now today Im loved by family, friends, and teachers.

I've become something of importance and done so much at the age of 17 that when people hear me speak they look at me in awe.

I rose above all this and even more obstacles that came my way and I stood up and never let it put me down in any way.

My name is Jovanni Najarro and im proud of what I've done.