<p>If you guys can read this essay and evaluate, the effort and the time will be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>(Note: I've been studying English for 3 years now (in US), and my grammar is very.. not good. So please pardon my bad grammar )</p>
<p>It was the time of vulnerability. Not being able to communicate with my peers or anyone in school, I was lonely and scared. Then, a group of students started to show the kindness and affection towards me. I was hungry for any type of interaction with peers, and thought I could finally do the things kids in my age normally do, having friends.</p>
<p>But it was all a dream. They didn't want me as their friend, but as a part of their group, something called a gang. They started off with showing me drugs and alcohols, and asked me to join their festivities. Not knowing what to do, I always made an excuse that wouldnt infuriate them, and put myself out of the awkwardness. Then one day, a girl who was especially nice to me popped the question, "Do you want to be a part of us?" It took me and for her a bit of time to get me to understand that she wanted me to join a gang she was a part of. </p>
<p>I endured the time without friends some more, after I told her that I couldn't. Many of my peers seem to think I was a "loser". But a couple of months later, the girl was expelled from the school, and lost her friends in a fight between gangs. </p>
<p>It was terrifying to even think that I could've gotten expelled from school, lost my family, and even lost my life. But at the same time, I was angry that no one is doing anything for the kids like me, who are vulnerable to these temptations. So last year, I finally decided to do something about it.</p>
<p>I made numerous phone calls and wrote many letters to the county government, school board, and police force. I've only gotten one response back, from a "County Partnership for Youth" whom wanted to help me launch my plans. Then the followed was the series of meetings that seem to never end. But I spoke with conviction when faced with someone in doubt, and in the beginning of this school year, I was dream was no longer a dream.</p>
<p>Now I work with police force, school board, and county partnership for youth to help my gang prevention program succeed. It's targeted mainly on elementary school students, aged between 10 to 12. My student group goes to different elementary schools, and give presentations on why one shouldn't join a gang. Also I'm currently working on raising fund to produce a prevention video that will be seen by middle school and high school students. </p>
<p>Every time I stand in front of student group, speaking about my experience, I get very emotional. It's been a while I've been doing this, but the terror that once possessed me in the past still revisits my consciousness frequently. Now it is my hope that sharing of my experience will help other kids to say No before they find themselves trapped.</p>