Former Gang Member hopes to be an Aspiring Psychologist
Shedeiky Hamilton
Issue date: 6/5/10 Section: News
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"That was the worst experience ever, it was a reality check although it took a while for me to realize that," added Hawthorne.
At 14 years old, Hawthorne was a member of a gang with other students from his alma mater, the Rye Neck Senior High School. All the other children were seniors and Hawthorne was the youngest member of the gang. He didn't take school seriously and instead of attending classes he would smoke before, during, and after school.
As a result of his involvement with the gang members, Hawthorne did not get along with the other students and the teachers at the school.
"I use to be a knucklehead," responded Hawthorne. I was in 5th grade hanging out with the high school kids."
When Hawthorne got to high school, all his friends left and he was stuck in high school alone. He became a bully because he believed that children always imitate what they saw and he saw his father being a bully.
"My dad was a beast, he use to beat my mom so when I went to school I thought that was the right thing to do," added Hawthorne. "I do not condole in it at all because I do not believe that a man should beat a woman just to be a man, I would rather beat up another brother," added Hawthorne.
This he did and throughout high school Hawthorne and his friends bullied the children and also stole car keys and used them to open other cars. They would then go joyriding, hollow at girls and buy weed.
"When we didn't have any money we would break into cars, go through them and if we found a phone, laptop or whatever we could sell, we took them," said Hawthorne.
A number of Hawthorne's friends are currently in jail while some are going through legal issues. Another of his friend got nine months in jail after a buyer who ordered 50 pills called the cop before setting up the transaction.
Hawthorne and one of his friends are the only two out of the gang that has never been in jail. Some of his friends have been shot while selling drugs and taking part in gun related issues.
"Once we started doing illegal things the other guy dropped our company, I am lucky to be alive because I have God by my side," added Hawthorne.
Hawthorne is indeed lucky because he got away with stealing cars and selling drugs.
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