Carolyn Arellano

I was offered a job in a strip club. My life went from hustling in the club to a legitimate life of crime. I got some people working under me and I remember being a maximum security person and he's like, you're going to escape. I'm like, just come get me. Like, yes. So he was a real one for this. I ended up moving to Newark, New Jersey when my parents had divorced pretty early on.

I was offered a job in a strip club. My life went from hustling in the club to a legitimate life of crime. I got some people working under me and I remember being a maximum security person and he's like, you're going to escape. I'm like, just come get me. Like, yes. So he was a real one for this. I ended up moving to Newark, New Jersey when my parents had divorced pretty early on.

I was offered a job in a strip club. My life went from hustling in the club to a legitimate life of crime. I got some people working under me and I remember being a maximum security person and he's like, you're going to escape. I'm like, just come get me. Like, yes. So he was a real one for this. I ended up moving to Newark, New Jersey when my parents had divorced pretty early on.

I think it was like before five years old. And my mother moving there is what kind of put me in that environment where I was, like, introduced to crime. Just being surrounded by, you know, gang members, drug dealers, all kinds of things that you wouldn't want your child to normally grow up around. Pretty much molded me into like the teenager that I was going to be, which was super rebellious.

I think it was like before five years old. And my mother moving there is what kind of put me in that environment where I was, like, introduced to crime. Just being surrounded by, you know, gang members, drug dealers, all kinds of things that you wouldn't want your child to normally grow up around. Pretty much molded me into like the teenager that I was going to be, which was super rebellious.

I think it was like before five years old. And my mother moving there is what kind of put me in that environment where I was, like, introduced to crime. Just being surrounded by, you know, gang members, drug dealers, all kinds of things that you wouldn't want your child to normally grow up around. Pretty much molded me into like the teenager that I was going to be, which was super rebellious.

I almost got into a gang during high school. I was about 15 years old. Thankfully, I didn't go all the way through it. But there was like a lot of drama with even just going to high school every day because of the people that I was like affiliated with and hanging around and dating at the time. So I was a freshman, pretty much dating a senior. So four years difference. And he was in a gang.

I almost got into a gang during high school. I was about 15 years old. Thankfully, I didn't go all the way through it. But there was like a lot of drama with even just going to high school every day because of the people that I was like affiliated with and hanging around and dating at the time. So I was a freshman, pretty much dating a senior. So four years difference. And he was in a gang.

I almost got into a gang during high school. I was about 15 years old. Thankfully, I didn't go all the way through it. But there was like a lot of drama with even just going to high school every day because of the people that I was like affiliated with and hanging around and dating at the time. So I was a freshman, pretty much dating a senior. So four years difference. And he was in a gang.

So I ended up having a kid with this guy, which was... How old were you? I was actually super young and embarrassing, but I was 15 when I gave birth. So I was, I think I got pregnant when I was about 14 years old with my first child. So yeah, rough beginning. Yeah.

So I ended up having a kid with this guy, which was... How old were you? I was actually super young and embarrassing, but I was 15 when I gave birth. So I was, I think I got pregnant when I was about 14 years old with my first child. So yeah, rough beginning. Yeah.

So I ended up having a kid with this guy, which was... How old were you? I was actually super young and embarrassing, but I was 15 when I gave birth. So I was, I think I got pregnant when I was about 14 years old with my first child. So yeah, rough beginning. Yeah.

And even crazier, I actually, you know, I kind of almost planned my first kid because I wanted to get away from my mother so bad at that point in my life. At that time, my mom was bipolar, but undiagnosed, which I kind of knew, like, growing up as a kid. But... So she was she was a mess, pretty much. I wanted to get out of the house, met this guy.

And even crazier, I actually, you know, I kind of almost planned my first kid because I wanted to get away from my mother so bad at that point in my life. At that time, my mom was bipolar, but undiagnosed, which I kind of knew, like, growing up as a kid. But... So she was she was a mess, pretty much. I wanted to get out of the house, met this guy.

And even crazier, I actually, you know, I kind of almost planned my first kid because I wanted to get away from my mother so bad at that point in my life. At that time, my mom was bipolar, but undiagnosed, which I kind of knew, like, growing up as a kid. But... So she was she was a mess, pretty much. I wanted to get out of the house, met this guy.

I was like, you know, if we have a baby, I can I can leave because she wouldn't let me emancipate myself. I tried going through the courts, didn't work because I didn't have enough money to take care of myself, didn't have proof that I could be an adult because I wasn't ready. But so I end up getting pregnant. doing exactly like I said, end up, you know, saying, well, I'm an adult now.

I was like, you know, if we have a baby, I can I can leave because she wouldn't let me emancipate myself. I tried going through the courts, didn't work because I didn't have enough money to take care of myself, didn't have proof that I could be an adult because I wasn't ready. But so I end up getting pregnant. doing exactly like I said, end up, you know, saying, well, I'm an adult now.

I was like, you know, if we have a baby, I can I can leave because she wouldn't let me emancipate myself. I tried going through the courts, didn't work because I didn't have enough money to take care of myself, didn't have proof that I could be an adult because I wasn't ready. But so I end up getting pregnant. doing exactly like I said, end up, you know, saying, well, I'm an adult now.

Like I don't have to be here. Um, end up moving out somehow graduating high school a year early. Um, and actually I graduated high school here early because of a lot of the fighting that I was doing in high school. So I ended up having a fight, one of many in high school with one of these girls and, um, I ended up hitting her pretty hard and she lost her hearing.

Like I don't have to be here. Um, end up moving out somehow graduating high school a year early. Um, and actually I graduated high school here early because of a lot of the fighting that I was doing in high school. So I ended up having a fight, one of many in high school with one of these girls and, um, I ended up hitting her pretty hard and she lost her hearing.