e
k
i
l
t
s
u
j
e
r
a
o
h
w
n
e
r
d
l
i
h
c
g
t
l
a
e
d
I
ve helpin
s
n
o
i
t
a
u
t
i
s
e
m
a
s
e
h
t
e
b
o
t
d
ng with
u
o
r
p
m
’
I
.
R
E
K
A
E
R
H
a
e
h
s
o
V
AIN B
’
a
L
s
i
e
m
a
n
y
M
the odds.
TIM.
A Story by
REAL TALK
:
k
l
l
a
a
e
T
R
La’Voshea Hendry
MY FATHER IS 53 YEARS OLD
WITH 17 FELONIES AND TWO
MISDEMEANORS. HE’S IN PRISON
NOW (AND HAS BEEN FOR
MOST OF HIS LIFE), AND HE STILL
DOESN’T REALIZE HOW MUCH HIS
CHOICES HAVE AFFECTED ME.
Growing up without a father
was difficult. In his absence,
I experienced many cases of
mental, physical, and sexual
abuse. Though I struggle with
multiple health issues, at 24
years old I’m striving to be
the best person I can be—for
myself, society, and other at-risk
children. I want to show them
they don’t have to be anything
like their parents. Instead, they