Steven Dominguez

Crime-ridden still, but I didn't ever feel in danger.

This is five or six years old.

My father leaves.

He moves to Harlem, which is still New York City.

The back and forth starts to happen where you'll sleep here for the weekend and then you come back.

Luckily, my mom gets a steady tour and a steady position for the Department of Education as a substitute teacher.

We have the same days off.

So I see my mom way more often than my dad.

My dad slowly starts to like not be in the picture.

Six, seven years old at this time.

And my mom, regardless of having this steady income, she's still cleaning apartments with her friend on the weekend in the Upper East Side just to get a room.

I can never say that I missed a meal.

I can never say that I missed a Christmas.

I still had a Nintendo 64, you know, things of that nature.

But I see this and I see the struggle of it's just her income.

I get into high school.

I go to Forest Hills High School.

At this time, I'm mostly just playing sports with my friends.

I'm not really getting into any deep trouble.

At this point, Jordans are a thing.