"I Can Do All Things Through Christ
Who Gives Me Strength" - Phillipians 4:13
Hello, my name is Andrew Martinez. I am 30 years old from Brawley, California and this is my story. When I was younger my family moved to Anaheim, California.
After the move my parents separated and were living in different houses. The moving
back and forth would go on until my father married my stepmother who at the time lived back home in Brawley.
My new stepmother had a daughter so now I had an older stepsister. Even though I had siblings I could not help but have feelings of emptiness and loneliness.
These feelings led me to become a troublemaker and defiant to everything. I would escape the empty feelings by skateboarding. My friends that I skated with smoked marijuana, and it was not long until I was smoking it.
From the use of marijuana came the consumption of alcohol.
The first time I got drunk I loved the feeling and did not want it to end. With the increased pot smoking and drinking the run ins with the law followed.
Despite moving to be with my father my addiction was right with me, and it was not long until my father kicked me out of his house. Being out of my father’s house I was now in a relationship, her and I would drink together.
This would lead to arguments and me getting arrested. Which landed me in Anger Management Class with Pastor Norm. My destructive behavior continued, and I was arrested repeatedly. Soon I was looking at a three-year prison sentence.
I had the choice of seeking help or three years in prison.
After the move my parents separated and were living in different houses. The moving
back and forth would go on until my father married my stepmother who at the time lived back home in Brawley.
My new stepmother had a daughter so now I had an older stepsister. Even though I had siblings I could not help but have feelings of emptiness and loneliness.
These feelings led me to become a troublemaker and defiant to everything. I would escape the empty feelings by skateboarding. My friends that I skated with smoked marijuana, and it was not long until I was smoking it.
From the use of marijuana came the consumption of alcohol.
The first time I got drunk I loved the feeling and did not want it to end. With the increased pot smoking and drinking the run ins with the law followed.
Despite moving to be with my father my addiction was right with me, and it was not long until my father kicked me out of his house. Being out of my father’s house I was now in a relationship, her and I would drink together.
This would lead to arguments and me getting arrested. Which landed me in Anger Management Class with Pastor Norm. My destructive behavior continued, and I was arrested repeatedly. Soon I was looking at a three-year prison sentence.
I had the choice of seeking help or three years in prison.
