It When I lived in Texas my life was very hard. My mom had an abusive boyfriend and there was a lot of screaming and sadness. I was scared for me but for my mom and my sister too. I remember hiding in my room and feeling scared but also feeling like I wanted to punch a wall. I couldn't do it. I didn't want my mom to worry about me. I always had trouble writing and expressing myself which made it harder for me to feel better.

One day, I had to write at school and I was nervous. It is hard for me to focus and concentrate and sometimes letters switch places. I felt like I wanted to do it but I was upset that it seemed so hard. I started drawing instead. I started drawing war scenarios. I don't know why but it made me feel good. It made me feel like I could picture something and put it on paper. It made sense and a lot didn't make sense in my life.

Some people think it's a little weird that I like to draw war scenarios but I think that it's organized and I can control what I draw. I am good at drawing and that makes me feel like I'm good at something. One of my favorite war scenarios to draw is a big wasteland. There are three rich people and they rule the world with their greed. The poor people have had enough of their bad treatment so they get together to start a revolution. They fight and fight with all that they have but in all my scenarios my mind draws the poor people losing. This makes me feel more depressed. I don't give up and I keep drawing them. I know that one day they will win.

Drawing specifically war scenarios helps me when things in my life feel too hard to handle. My mom, my sister and I left her abusive boyfriend and fled to San Diego.

That is how we ended up at Father Joe's Villages. Here, I feel safer and I can keep drawing my war scenarios. When I was stressed I realized that drawing war scenarios would help me a lot. I felt a little less angry and a little more strong. Today, I still have some trouble with school and learning but I know that I still have something that is mine and that I am good at.

I want to finish school and join the military some day. I want to use the war scenarios in my head to help the poor people fight the greedy rich people and people who hurt others. I will use my creative mind and maybe get to be captain and lead a real army some day. I also plan to create a military coloring book for scared kids like me. It is my super power and I can use it to keep me, my sister, my mom safe and others safe.