My name is Patrick Nelson James and I am 21 years of age. I'm the 3rd child of 7. I grew up in the Jane and Finch community where I was exposed to a lot of things I wasn't supposed to be exposed to at that time (such as killings, muggings, drug dealing, etc.) I was even stabbed by someone very close to me I grew up in a one parent household for most of my life and it wasn't easy because my mother, myself and my other siblings didn't get along very well, especially my mother and I, which at times made me feel alone and depressed because I felt no one wanted me. As a result of being depressed, I turned to gangs, drugs and alcohol, not to mention getting into fist fights regularly. Church for me was also a struggle. My Dad brought us into the church before he moved away (to begin a new life elsewhere) so I kept going although it was hard sometimes because I felt God didn't love me due to all the crazy things that was going on in my life I eventually left the church for about two years, and got involved with the wrong crowd, but the funny thing was that I'd still pray to God regularly, and looking back I believe that God was still with me even though I had turned my back on him. With all my experiences I'm now here trying to encourage others to just keep trusting in God and he will continue to bless you. I thank God that despite my negative experiences, I thank God every day that I am still alive and I still have faith and power to keep pushing forward I am currently pursuing Social Work so that i may be able to help out others even more.