As a teenager I ran with a street gang. We sold and consumed drugs, did drive-bys, committed all sorts of assaults. I mean we really hurt a lot of people. I was arrested twice for multiple offenses. Both my parents worked and had good careers and I had the luxury of them being able to hire a lawyer who was able to get all charges dismissed. I had friends who were not so lucky and they began a path that led them to lives of incarceration and even death. Some of us still keep in touch–we’re still friends, after all.
I had the luxury of putting it all behind me, going to college and now am very successful at my job where I provide internal support for a large Fortune 100 company. I still have not overcome all my demons, but I know the difference between what really got me to where I am and others that were not so fortunate.