A Place to Belong, Part 2
Young people discuss their personal interests—favorite artists, foods, activities—and how they see themselves.
“Don't judge a book by its cover.”
“I used to. I used to dance a lot. I used to be a little life of the party when I was younger, but I don't really dance no more.”
“That I'm a welder, certified welder.”
“Most likely I would say Air Forces, just some fire Nikes. I be putting that shit on. Got a style for me. You know the girls love me.”
“(That) I can draw. I hide it from people.”
“My favorite subject is biology...I like to learn more about life and how stuff is made”
“Just rap. But I like singing, too. I don't sing, but I like singing.”
“R&B and rap. And I love Cardi B, and her little baby. Her baby is pretty.”
“Not everybody know that I love to cook.”
“I want for myself to go to college and finish college with being a pediatrician or a nurse.”
“Favorite meal to cook would be spaghetti... I want to be a chef and I want to own my own restaurant... Fresh Out the Pot”
“I like adventuring...just going outside and learning more about my city and stuff like that.”
“I like to go places with my friends.”
“I don't know, I'm a really goofy person, and I smile all the time. Even though, even if I'm hurt or feeling some type of way, I don't let that get to mess up my value.”
“…A lot of people, they look at my record, and they look a lot of stuff, they look at the bad side, they really wouldn't know that I'm smart and I have enough sense like I do…”
“The energy I bring to people. How I make people smile when they upset. See, me, I'm goofy. So at school, I'm crazy. I've been crazy. Especially when I eat candy, it's over with.”
“I definitely like working out. I don't know. It's just like ... I like being in that gym environment, like with everybody else in there with one particular goal. That's why I liked being part of any organized team. I just love everybody coming together to accomplish one goal.”
“I like playing football.”
“All-around athlete. Academic too.”
“I started running track when I was seven. I stopped because I didn't have enough motivation to push me to keep going because I gave up on myself. But now, I have enough motivation, and I'm also pushing myself to continue to do it.”
“Yeah. I like the clothing aspect, I like designing clothing. That's what I circled on the paper. I like the whole ... I like everything about it, step by step. Like from start to finish, like from the blank t-shirt, the copy, the logo, the printing on, the heat pressing it on. I like everything about it, step by step.”
“Artist and I want to have my own business.”
“...It's kind of just like you're just being creative. It's no right or wrong to it. It's just like whatever comes to your head.”
“See, my favorite color yellow. I feel like yellow means happy. It brings joy. When you see the sun in the morning, I'm like, ‘Oh, it's time to get up. I'm up.’ You're just up. You hyped. You ready to start your day. So I see myself as the color yellow. That's why I love yellow so much.”
“I love music in general because it helps calm me. When I write, it's like anything that I’m going through, or whatever the case may be, I can put that pain in my music, so that's what I try to do.”
“My favorite thing is basically music and making music…That's just my biggest passion in life. What I have a passion for.”
“I'm really a strong person. I'm really a strong person. Yeah. I am a conqueror. Understand that most importantly about me.”