One way I look at the word relentless is to never give up. In my life, there have been many obstacles and barriers where I could have very easily said forget it and gave in because it was the easiest thing to do at the time, but I had to find a way to become relentless. Last year I was in a situation where I didn't think I would even graduate high school, let alone be at Western Michigan University today. To look back and basically sum up everything I have been through in life, and more so this past year, is to say that I was relentless.

Last year started off rough for me. Starting my senior year in high school, I didn't really have much self discipline and it lead me into some situations I'm not proud of, but I am humble enough to look back on them now and take accountability. To start my year off, I was kicked off of the cross country team for talking back and disrespecting my coach who also happened to be my dad. I felt like I was being singled out and was treated unfairly so I got defensive and said some things I shouldn't have, but at the time I felt like they needed to be said. This problem escalated to me acting out towards our athletic director, because I became defensive and didn't care how I approached anyone. This lead to me getting suspended from school for swearing at the Athletic Director. This had me on edge with everything and everyone else around me, and I felt like nothing or no one could stop me and I was scared, angry, and felt like the world was against me.

A few weeks later, me and my sister got in a argument over something stupid, but that doesn't excuse the way I acted towards her. We were yelling at each other, I don't remember what was said, but I remember telling her to get the fuck out of my face and I shoved her, and this lead me to go to jail. As I was cuffed and in the back of the cop car, I felt as if now I had nothing left in me. I felt like there was literally no coming back from what I had done and I only had myself to blame. As I got booked, this is when I mentally was unstable, but I did the best thing I could have done and it changed my life. I closed my eyes and prayed to God, asked him for his forgiveness, and apologized for my sins. This honestly was a life changing moment for me, and the first time I truly felt the power of God and how he works through people. I have always gone to church growing up, but nothing compared to in that moment, the connection I felt and the courage it gave me to stay poised in that situation. Those four days I spent in jail, were four days of my life that I can't take back, but will never forget how scared the inmates made me feel, but the strength and courage God gave me. In this moment I truly felt Him take control and make me feel that I wasn't alone. I went to court, plead guilty, and took my punishment.

When I returned back to the real world, I was scared and shook up, but I knew that I had to make a change and grow through this with God. I knew I needed to rebuild relationships with everyone in my life because I realized that a lot of the problems I had were the way I talked to and treated people, and also how I handled my anger. I was court ordered to take an anger management class that was three months long, and I also had six months of probation. I looked at this as a gift because I could have been in a much worse situation. I got myself in that situation and I made it my responsibility to get myself out of it on my own, with support mentally. I made it through that year by setting small short term goals, that build up to bigger goals, and that was to graduate, get off probation, and attend a university.

I didn't write this for people to feel sorry for me or for attention, I simply wanted to just reflect on how grateful I am that I honestly changed so much in the past year. I feel now as if I can do anything I set my mind to because I know God will support me and have my back, and ultimately that is the most satisfying thing that keeps me going every day. Do I still have bad days and feel hopeless or down? Yeah, I think everyone does, but mine are starting to be different because when I get like that lately I have been praying, reading my bible, and just writing down what's on my mind because I have found an outlet that keeps me going along with powerful and supportive people.

I am happy for the person I have become, but never satisfied because I know that life can be taken from you at any moment. I have learned to stay humble and kind. I have learned to value the important things in life, not materialistic items. I have become more self-confident, many people see this as being cocky, but there's a difference because I'm starting to find my self-worth and that means the world to me. I am a fighter and I work hard every day to fight to become a better person and become more happy with myself and just value life more in general. I have come a long way, but I am far from the man I am yet to become because I will become a better person every day, no matter the situation life throws me into. Thank you to everyone in my life that keeps me going, and thank you, God. I'm blessed and will make it through anything with you all on my side, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.