This story is about one kid from East Los Angeles that overcame the stresses of poverty with skateboarding.

Oscar Villegas was born in the back seat of a taxi in Mexico. At the age of 2, he was illegally crossed over with his brother. Oscar arrived in East Los Angeles where he was born and raised. Accounting the financial status of his family, there was not much to do growing up. He had nothing to do until when he was twelve years old, and he got his hands onto a skateboard.

When Oscar was in seventh grade, he began his hobby of skateboarding. He would wake up at 5 A.M. and skate about three miles to school. He would arrive a 6 A.M. when only the custodians were there and just skate until class started.

Oscar recalls a memory of when the gangsters that would pick on him at school saw him skateboarding down a hill threw up signs to show respect. Growing up in a neighborhood where the kids his age were all gang members he chose a different route. Unfortunately, he says his whole childhood he had to hang out with this kids to "fit in." As he grew up he was able to roam freely.

Now Oscar is 20 years old. He bought his car with money he saved up from odd jobs he has worked since he was 13. He has lived alone in a studio in Montebello with his girlfriend and dog Bailey since he was eighteen. Oscar was able to overcome the stresses and danger of poverty. Skateboarding, he says has had a big part in it. When things get tough, he goes out on his days off or early mornings before work and skates. He sets a goal for himself and tries to achieve it. If he fails, he tries again.Oscar is only one person, one story, and one outcome. Oscar Villegas is a story about a kid who had all odds pushed against him, yet he climbed out successfully.