Oct. 8, 2025

Silent Pain to Second Chances: a teen’s journey through bullying, suicide survival, and faith-Part 1 of 3 Part Series

Silent Pain to Second Chances: a teen’s journey through bullying, suicide survival, and faith-Part 1 of 3 Part Series

"Text now! I'll Respond" 🎧 Content Warning: This episode contains open and honest discussions about suicide, self-harm, and mental health struggles. The conversation may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone—help is available 24/7. PART 1 OF 3 PART SERIES A boy we once called “Little Will” returns as a 17-yea...

Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Overcast podcast player badge
PocketCasts podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon Overcast podcast player icon PocketCasts podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
Season 4

"Text now! I'll Respond"

 🎧 Content Warning:
This episode contains open and honest discussions about suicide, self-harm, and mental health struggles. The conversation may be distressing for some listeners.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help.
In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone—help is available 24/7. 

PART 1 OF 3 PART SERIES

A boy we once called “Little Will” returns as a 17-year-old with a story that’s equal parts heartbreak and hard-won hope. What starts as casual banter about sports, Fortnite, and bowling opens into the quiet realities of bullying’s “little things,” the late-night tears no one saw, and the spiral that followed—slipping grades, lost identity, and the heavy thought that disappearing might hurt less. Will takes us to Halloween 2022, when a party no one attended became more than a bad night; it became a fault line. He shares, with raw honesty, the suicide attempt that nearly ended everything, the days he woke to tubes and warnings he might never walk or talk again, and the rehab victories that most of us overlook—throwing a football, laughing with a friend, tasting joy in small, sweet rituals.

The path back wasn’t straight. After the hospital came a slide toward the crowd that accepts quickly but cares little—smoke, drinking, and numbing out. Then a moment of clarity: a slip at a pumpkin patch, a palm through glass, and a thought that wouldn’t let go—What am I doing? Homeschool followed, along with a deliberate retreat from social media and the empty currency of likes. Will speaks to every kid chasing approval on a screen: you won’t remember who commented when you’re sixty. What you will remember is who answered when you called, who showed up at your bedside, and who told you to stay.

The turning point has a name for Will: Jesus Christ. He describes a steady return—Switch youth nights, notes in his phone, verses highlighted, prayers at night and in the morning. He found a community that meets mistakes with grace and helps him aim at meaning instead of metrics. We talk about redefining acceptance, inviting friends even if they’re “not church people,” and building a life with simple, solid steps: a job at Ace Hardware to get better with people, plans for trade school in plumbing or electrical, and a clear goal—graduate and keep going. He honors the courage of his sister, who found him and called 911, and the steadfast love of parents who gave time and fought for his recovery.


RESOURCES
If you or someone you know is in pain, feeling hopeless, or thinking about suicide — please reach out for help. You are not alone, and your story is not over. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 right now to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — it’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. Veterans can press 1 after dialing 988 to connect directly with the Veterans Crisis Line.You can also find resources online at:

  • 🌐 988lifeline.org

  • 🌐 VeteransCrisisLine.net

  • 🌐 NAMI.org/Help
     (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
  • 🌐 MakeTheConnection.net
     (Stories and resources for Veterans)


Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Connection Podcast with Jay Miralles. Please subscribe and share!

WEBSITE
https://www.letsgo321.com

GET IN TOUCH
https://flow.page/jaymiralles

BUY MY BOOK
https://books.by/jaymiralles

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
https://www.youtube.com/@jaymirallestheconnection

00:00 - Meet Will: A Decade of Knowing

02:00 - Sports, School, and the Quiet Hurt

04:20 - Bullying’s “Little Things” and Hiding Pain

08:00 - Early Warning Signs and Isolation

10:30 - Halloween Loneliness and Ideation

13:20 - Grades, Identity, and the Spiral

16:40 - Breaking Point: Loss, Breakup, and Doubt

19:25 - The Attempt and Hospital Awakening

22:00 - Rehab, Small Wins, and Support

25:00 - Returning Home, Setbacks, and Bad Crowds

27:30 - The Glass Incident and Reality Check

29:00 - Homeschool, Less Social Media, More Clarity

31:00 - Speaking to Kids Chasing Validation

33:00 - Finding Faith and a New Community

36:00 - Values Rebuilt and Daily Practices

38:00 - Acceptance Redefined and Helping Friends

40:00 - First Steps for Someone in Crisis

42:00 - Sister’s Courage and Family Gratitude

44:00 - Hope, Purpose, and Next Chapter

46:00 - Closing Reflections and Resources

WEBVTT

00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:11.919
Connecting the dog.

00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:14.880
Connecting his dust to the world.

00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:16.800
Creating more connections.

00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:19.600
Welcome to The Connection.

00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:24.879
Meet your host, author, coach, Air Force veteran Jay Morales.

00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:35.600
So today I have Will Cummings with me, and I've known you for how long, Will?

00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.159
Ten years?

00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:38.560
Yeah.

00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:38.960
Yeah.

00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:39.920
How old were you?

00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:42.320
Probably seven years old.

00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:42.880
Right.

00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:44.000
Little Will.

00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:45.520
That's what I called you then.

00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:46.000
No.

00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.719
So Will, why don't we catch everyone up to now?

00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:52.079
So you're you were at Millard.

00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:53.119
I was at Millard, yeah.

00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:54.159
Yeah, Millard West.

00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.000
And you went there your freshman year?

00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:59.759
I went there my freshman year through my like halfway through my junior year.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.200
Halfway through your junior year.

00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.799
Almost halfway, yeah.

00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:03.439
Absolutely.

00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.359
What are some of the things that kept you busy before before at school?

00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:11.599
At school, I would say like you did sports.

00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.000
Yeah.

00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.599
I I mean I did some sports.

00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.599
I mean, I don't know.

00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.959
I mean, I guess it's like just like things outside of school.

00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:19.280
Yeah.

00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:21.120
Like what what did you do?

00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:22.319
What you bowled as well?

00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:23.920
I bowled, I played football.

00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:29.840
I well, after like the whole incident thing.

00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:30.400
Yeah, yeah.

00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.920
Even before I couldn't play football, but even before that, I bowled.

00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:37.040
Did you I still am?

00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:37.760
You still are?

00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:38.319
Okay, well.

00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:41.680
What are some of your favorite games?

00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.519
I would probably say skate.

00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:44.959
I mean, ever heard of that?

00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:46.079
No, I I haven't.

00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.200
That's a new one for me.

00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.519
All I know is Fortnite and Roblox.

00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:50.560
Yeah.

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.640
Right now I play a lot of Fortnite.

00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:53.200
Yeah.

00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:54.239
Okay, Fortnite too.

00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:54.719
I know that.

00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:55.359
Yeah, for sure.

00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:56.079
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:56.400
Yeah.

00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:57.599
A lot of skate.

00:01:57.760 --> 00:01:58.079
Okay.

00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:02.719
Let me think.

00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:05.439
So so those are the things.

00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:06.640
Typical teenage boy.

00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:08.560
Typical teenage boy, right?

00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.199
First of all, you don't look like a teenager mustache.

00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:14.319
So for for the record, Will is 17.

00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:14.639
Yeah.

00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:14.960
Okay.

00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:16.000
17 years old.

00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:17.039
And now you're a senior.

00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:17.199
Yeah.

00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.479
And you're homeschooled now.

00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:18.719
Yeah.

00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:19.120
Right?

00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:19.599
Okay.

00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:26.319
So, Will, now that you know we can people can relate to you, you know, a 17-year-old teenager.

00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:30.159
Um, I want to talk about early story and you know just some of the background.

00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.759
Can you tell us a little bit about your life leading up to the struggles, right?

00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:40.080
What are what are some of the things that you do remember or some of the things you're comfortable talking about?

00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:48.400
Oh I remember just like like a just sad wave come over me, like at some times.

00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.439
Like, I mean, I remember I was getting bullied a lot.

00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:52.000
Okay.

00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.080
But take me through that.

00:02:54.159 --> 00:03:11.280
You know, so so we hear the word bullied, you know, we hear the word, you know, being picked on, or, you know, what what are what are some of if it's not too painful to talk about, what are some of the things that you had to endure or be bullied about?

00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:13.599
Just like small things.

00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:22.479
I mean, it's not really like a like a certain thing like that I did or had that would like lead to bullying.

00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.080
It's just like small things, yeah, like my last name.

00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:26.560
Okay.

00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.159
Yeah, yeah, I get it, right?

00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:29.039
Yeah, yeah.

00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:37.919
So that's important when you say the little things, because when we think bullying, we think of some person twice the size of someone pushing them.

00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:39.840
And that's not necessarily it, right?

00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:42.879
We're talking about they're just I make fun of me.

00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:43.840
Making fun, right?

00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:52.400
And and while people say, Oh, you gotta have thick skin, or you know, hey, you gotta be tougher than that.

00:03:53.840 --> 00:04:00.719
Did people tell you, you know, like, hey, you gotta be tougher than that, or what when you heard that, what did you think when people said, Come on, man, it's not that bad.

00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:01.840
Did do they ever do that?

00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:13.919
I mean, no one well at times they did, but yeah, like if if I took it personally, they would say just have like thicker skin or something, yeah, like build a layer over yourself, yeah, or something like that.

00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:24.800
Would you say as a kid, and this will help other kids looking, I mean, to for for answers, would you say that it was easy to hide how you felt inside?

00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:33.839
At the time I did I yeah, it was easy to like because like I was like this like extrovert at the time.

00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:34.480
Yeah, yeah.

00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:40.879
But like when I got home and like late at night, like I would cry myself to sleep at times.

00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.000
Yeah, I just like listen to like sad music.

00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:50.160
So so you just like so out in front of the public.

00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.720
In like in public, I was like an extrovert.

00:04:52.800 --> 00:05:04.560
I was always like enjoying myself, I was happy, but like just like what like I guess on the inside, it it it hurt.

00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:05.120
It hurt.

00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:06.000
Yeah.

00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.480
You know, we don't think about the things, right?

00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.879
We only see what people put on Facebook and Instagram and living their best lives.

00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:18.639
And like you said, when you're out extroverted, you were somewhat putting up with it.

00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:39.519
And then, like you said, when you would go home, that's the part I think, and this is again, I'm not some mental health specialist, but I think the part that we don't see is when the person who is feeling sad retreats like that, goes home, and just like you said, in your room, crying yourself to sleep, you know what I mean?

00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:41.439
And and you only see that in the movies, right?

00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.199
Like, yeah, people see that in the movies.

00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:49.920
That does, and and then we as a society don't talk about it because we shouldn't talk about things like that, yeah.

00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:56.879
You know, but like that that stuff like makes me bad, like how like people like just don't decide to talk about it.

00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:03.040
Yeah, tell me tell tell me you you're you're onto something there where you say, Hey, it's important to me that people talk about it.

00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:10.240
Yeah, it's really important that people talk about like how they feel or like like just at least open up.

00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.680
Well what if I say, Oh man, I'm too embarrassed, bro.

00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:20.160
Just I mean, like when I got out of the hospital, I used to say like it's whatever, yeah, like all the time.

00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:21.439
You say it's whatever.

00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:22.480
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.519
Yeah, and that's how I basically would approach things.

00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:32.800
Like if I did something like embarrassing in my house or like maybe in public, I would say it's whatever.

00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.639
It's whatever, who cares, right?

00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:43.680
So you basically suppressed your feelings, you just put up with it for a second, and then when it was quiet, I think that's when it gets people, even for me.

00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:50.720
When I'm by myself isolated from people, I think that's when you know the thoughts, uh ideations you know creep in.

00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:55.199
And it's easy to get down on yourself and and hard on yourself and talk.

00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.399
What what what were some of the things you were saying to yourself, Will?

00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:05.199
And if you know, again, if you're not comfortable talking, you can just tell me, hey, let's let's move to the next question.

00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.399
But what are some of the things you told yourself through this?

00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.800
Like, did you start believing it?

00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.160
Yeah, I guess so.

00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.360
I mean I don't know.

00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:23.199
I mean, I guess I just told myself that maybe it was better if I was like somewhere else or gone.

00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:23.759
Or gone.

00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:24.399
Okay, yeah.

00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:25.199
It's okay.

00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:26.399
We can talk openly here.

00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.639
What were some of the challenges that you carried silently, right?

00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:33.199
Like maybe you just didn't tell anyone.

00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:39.839
So like what were you ashamed of, or what are the things that scared you the most?

00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:45.439
So what scared me because I my grades were pretty bad freshman year.

00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:47.279
Okay, so what were you thinking then?

00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.040
Because your grades started declining.

00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:50.480
Yeah, okay, horribly.

00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:50.800
Yeah.

00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:56.879
So like I got I got like kicked off the football team because of my grades.

00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:01.600
I mean, I just yeah, I was really embarrassed because of that.

00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:03.759
Okay, so you went into a downward spiral.

00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.839
Yeah, I went to a huge spiral.

00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:09.279
Besides yourself, who who else was hard on you?

00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.600
Like coaches, like players?

00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.680
Yeah, your your fellow players.

00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:19.120
What what were some of the things they were saying to you that made you, you know, like man, embarrassed or ashamed?

00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.399
Or yeah, what were they saying?

00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:27.759
Um, they were saying like uh like I'm not good enough, or just like get off the team, something like that.

00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:28.560
Yeah, yeah.

00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:32.480
I appreciate your courage now you're telling this because this is a healing journey, right?

00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.360
Now we're here to tell the story, right?

00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.559
And I'm glad you're here.

00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:42.320
So, you know, with that frame of mind, just keep that in mind as I'm asking you these questions.

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:46.720
Looking back now, K17.

00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:54.159
Were there any warning signs to yourself that you know you were like, man, this is I don't even want to be here.

00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.519
Like, I don't want to be alive.

00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:59.279
Like, when did you when did you think you detect that?

00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.639
What did is there an age?

00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:07.279
Is there an event that you remember that you're just like, man, I I don't want to be here.

00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.639
I would say like Halloween of 2022.

00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.159
Okay, how old were you then?

00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:15.279
I think I was 13.

00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.159
13, okay.

00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.440
So actually, no, 14.

00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.000
14.

00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.000
Okay, so so let's let's talk about that.

00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:21.759
Why do you remember Halloween of Halloween?

00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:25.440
Because I hosted a like a Halloween party that year.

00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:26.159
At your house?

00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:26.799
Yeah, at my house.

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.720
And like no one came.

00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:29.679
Wow.

00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.240
But like one of my friends came and Jacob, Jacob Quist.

00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:34.879
Yeah, yeah.

00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:43.759
If you know that family, he came and two other kids who were like riding their bike around seeing who was trick-or-treating.

00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.320
Yeah, yeah.

00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:48.960
Yeah, they were they like stopped by because they they wondered what was going on.

00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:49.279
Yeah.

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.440
And they stopped by for a while.

00:09:51.679 --> 00:10:05.120
But do you think, Will, that when you had this party, did you make excuses in your mind, like, oh, maybe they didn't show because you knew?

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.000
Yeah, I know.

00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.720
You knew?

00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.320
Yeah, because when I opened up Snapchat, uh Okay.

00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:10.720
Yeah.

00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:13.679
We're gonna talk about that too, the social media aspect of this.

00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.000
Yeah.

00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:22.240
So when you open up Snapchat, what what did like they told me the reason why it's because it was supposed to be like boring or something like that?

00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.799
I don't remember, but so the people you invited said that it was gonna be boring, we're not coming.

00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:27.679
I think so, yeah.

00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:41.919
From what you were man, I mean, I think every kid, especially still now, even before, were you seeking acceptance or fitting in?

00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.480
Yeah, how bad did you need that?

00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:47.440
Like, tell me, tell me why that was so important to you.

00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:52.399
It was important to me, because like uh I don't know actually.

00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.320
I have no clue why it was important to me.

00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.799
Yeah, but like I feel like I needed to like fit in with like the a certain group of people.

00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.240
Like what kind of certain group?

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:03.600
We describe the group of people that you're like, man, I hope I I hope they accept me.

00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:07.840
I hope I yeah, sporty kids, sporty kids, yeah, like the athletes, okay.

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:08.799
Yeah, all them.

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:18.000
And like I had a like a dream that I like I was gonna go into the big leagues, and then like yeah, sure.

00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.200
You had dreams, yeah.

00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:19.600
Right?

00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:26.720
You you aspired to do great things, and those were the early warning signs.

00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.799
Okay, so bring us back to Halloween.

00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:30.000
The night's over.

00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:35.200
What do you do you remember anything from there or any events that from there that give you more warning signs?

00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.159
I did.

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:41.519
Well, uh there was, I mean, I tried guarding my dad's gun at the time.

00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:46.080
Like I was contemplating it, I was like thinking over and over.

00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:50.720
Yeah, and then I I I don't remember like after that, but sure.

00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:53.519
No, but I don't I don't think I no, I didn't do it.

00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.720
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:57.519
No, I I know what you mean, and I know what you mean.

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.399
That's that's really heavy.

00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.919
I want to move, I want to move on.

00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:04.639
What was the hardest season in your life?

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:15.679
Now you were 13 when you were feeling that way, you know, from 13 to how old were you when 14, 14 years old.

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.039
So so that whole year, okay.

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:31.919
Do you remember any events in that year that maybe people can identify with and and be like, um, man, if you're experiencing this, this is a this is a true warning sign, or this is this is when you need help.

00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.440
What was the hardest part of that?

00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:36.960
I would say like definitely when my grades started dipping.

00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:37.440
Okay.

00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:44.960
Like I like I started getting away from like all of the sporty kids because I got kicked off the football team.

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.519
Yeah.

00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:56.320
And like, yeah, just I guess just when I started like feeling my lows, my grades started dropping.

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.480
Okay, so let's talk about that.

00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:06.240
Were you feeling low because your grades were dropping, or were you feeling low because you felt like you were letting yourself down, or was it you're letting your parents down?

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:11.440
Was it letting who when you were getting lower grades?

00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:15.759
Did it go lower because of your because you just stopped working, or what came first?

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.559
That's what I'm trying to say.

00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.960
So what came first was definitely just anything else.

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:24.159
Okay, just anything else but homework.

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.639
Yes.

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:29.519
Like I focused on like the littlest things and just didn't do my homework.

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.000
Okay.

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.720
You just refused.

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.080
Refused, yeah.

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.320
Okay.

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:37.600
And like I just, I mean, my parents would get on me, but they're just trying to help.

00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.559
Of course, of course.

00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:47.120
And I think that as a parent's role, if you can go back and really understand what you're trying, your parents were trying to support you.

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.320
Yes, they might have been hard on you, but what did you really now?

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:57.519
What you know about when you were slipping, what do you want them to know about how they supported you?

00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.279
Uh they did pretty good.

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.720
I don't know why I didn't listen.

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.600
Yeah, yeah.

00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.639
They did pretty good.

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.120
Yeah, they did.

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.960
You better give them a little more credit than that.

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:05.440
Yeah.

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.600
I mean, okay, y'all did really good.

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:11.519
Well, well, you know, you just said, I don't know why I didn't listen, right?

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.639
I mean, you're 14 at the time, not giving you an excuse either.

00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.080
But but I think how important is it now?

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:23.200
You know, because I'm hard on Mason too, and Mason's 16 years old, right?

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:28.320
And and I harp on him and I I want excellence for him.

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:32.639
I mean what's what's a better way for me to approach someone?

00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:36.480
You know, what's a better way to for me to connect with with a kid like that?

00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:40.960
If you have to give advice to people, or or is it effective?

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.039
It it's somewhat effective, yeah.

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.600
But like if they were in the position I'm in, I guess it would just be like sympathize with them.

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.080
Okay.

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.759
Like like how?

00:14:50.080 --> 00:15:00.639
Like seeing like if they're like if they're depressed or anything, yeah, if they're like going through like a heartbreak or crap.

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.879
Anything like grades maybe slipping.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.279
Okay.

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:05.519
Yeah.

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.720
Just anything, really.

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:14.799
Yeah, well, you know, and and again, we we all never know because there's never an announcement for any, you know, an event like this.

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:19.759
So what do you think was the what was your breaking point?

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.720
Like where yeah, my breaking point to why to where where it brought you to.

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.120
Okay.

00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:28.960
So my breaking point was when I broke up with my girlfriend.

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.440
Okay.

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.720
Let's not say her name.

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.200
Yeah, yeah.

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.519
Okay.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:31.759
Yeah.

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.799
I'm not gonna say her name.

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.440
Yeah, yeah.

00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:46.159
But yeah, it's definitely that because like at the time my dog was dying, and we lost Storm 2023.

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.519
Sure, I think.

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.320
Yeah, yeah.

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:48.799
It's okay.

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.399
We're of 2023.

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:52.720
Yeah, and then um broke up with your girlfriend.

00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.000
Broke up with my girlfriend.

00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.960
How much of your identity do you think you placed in in other relationships?

00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:02.879
How much of your worth did you put in a relationship or things?

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.440
Like, did you put too much in a relationship?

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.960
Did you put too much into your dog?

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:15.039
Like, what responsibility of yours do you feel like you said, hey man, maybe I maybe I put myself way too out there?

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:19.200
I don't feel like I like put much responsibility.

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.840
Like, I don't feel like I had any responsibilities.

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.879
I mean, other than like hopping online to get with my friends, yeah, to get on with my friends.

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.440
Yeah.

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.840
I don't know.

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:37.679
I guess the question is before before what were you thinking?

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:39.600
Were you were you blaming people?

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:43.519
Were you saying or were you blaming yourself?

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.360
Or what was the self-talk like?

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:50.879
Self-talk was definitely like I shouldn't be here, no one no one would care if I was gone.

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.639
Okay, I want to talk about that.

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:55.200
So what else did you say when you said no one cares?

00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:00.879
How do you really believe, or did you really believe, like, okay, no one's gonna care?

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.759
Uh yeah, I really believe that.

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:07.599
I mean, I just felt like isolated, yeah, yeah.

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.160
Yeah.

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:15.279
Like, I guess like just like when I was alone in my room, I would like listen to like depressing music.

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:15.920
Yeah, yeah.

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:24.640
Like you go into the entire not that just just you you immersed yourself in sadness or yeah, you know, whatever.

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.319
I myself, yeah, yeah.

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:29.839
Like at that point, I just didn't I didn't really care.

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:34.799
I mean, I knew I was like depressed, but like I know how your faith is now.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.480
How was your faith then though?

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.200
Then it was nowhere near where I am now.

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:47.119
Yeah, yeah so so believing in God then was just because you want to be a good boy, you want to believe in God, and and it's the right thing to go to church.

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.640
There was real no real connection.

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.160
Yeah, there was no connection at all.

00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.799
Okay, because we're gonna talk about your strong faith later.

00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.640
But you said the only.

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.680
I didn't mean to interrupt you.

00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:03.599
You said the only the only reason, like I said I well, the only reason why I went to church was to be with my friends.

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:09.119
So you're seeking even more connection, friends at church, right?

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:12.400
Just hey, maybe these people will, you know, accept me.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.039
Yeah, maybe it's maybe it's more safe at church.

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:21.039
No, that that's good to know because there are people that do seek community all the time, you know.

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.079
And I'm gonna tell you, I still seek validation now.

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.160
I I want to be accepted, right?

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:30.240
I want approval, I want friends, I want people to like me.

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:34.720
And I'm telling you, I think I think it's unhealthy at times.

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.759
You know what I mean?

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.599
So over the years, I've conditioned myself to say, you know what?

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.160
If I have one friend, that's enough.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.640
Yeah, if I have two, it's a blessing.

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.079
If I have three, man, that's that's all you really need.

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.039
Yeah, you know what I mean?

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:54.880
I know a lot of people, I network with a lot of people, but the meaningful relationships is what I'm after now.

00:18:55.039 --> 00:19:03.519
You know, and you had an accelerated learning from age zero to 17, especially, you know, with the hard times that you've you've you've faced under.

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.720
Yeah.

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.599
Yeah.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:14.880
Now I I want to talk about this, not for the shock and okay.

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:28.480
I want to talk about this about how you even thought of where did you get the idea of your and if you don't even have to talk about the method, but where did you get the idea for your method?

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:34.720
Um was it I don't I don't know.

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.559
Yeah, I don't know where I got the idea.

00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.119
Yeah.

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.400
But I mean, I'm fine talking about it, but talk about whatever you want to talk about.

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.880
I tried hanging myself, so yeah, yeah.

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:48.160
I mean, I don't know where I thought that method was like the greatest.

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.480
Well, yeah.

00:19:50.640 --> 00:20:00.880
I mean I mean it's brave of you to speak about it now, but when you when you woke up, let's let's go there now.

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:08.720
When you woke up for the first time after that incident what's your earliest memory of waking up after that?

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:13.440
Earliest memory was probably when I like got up to hug my mom.

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.279
How many days was that?

00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:18.559
Or was it I think that was like three days after?

00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.119
Okay.

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:19.839
Okay.

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.400
I don't know.

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.200
Yeah.

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:21.680
Yeah.

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:24.960
Were were you do you remember a lot of that?

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:28.720
I don't remember a lot of being in the hospital.

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:32.160
Like no, I had like a tube down my throat for like breathing.

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.079
I had a food, I had food going up my nose.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.839
What else?

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:46.000
Like, I like do I have the scar still?

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.960
Did you have a lot of I have a I had a lot of needles?

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:49.839
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.119
Oh, I'm I'm sure.

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.920
I'm sure.

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:57.839
You know what in your in your when you let's call this turning around now, right?

00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:02.960
Like do you remember your rehabilitative uh process?

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:08.240
Do you remember going through the getting back on your feet?

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.359
Do you remember any of that?

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.720
Can you can you talk about that?

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:16.480
Can you so yeah, my rehabilitation process took about like maybe four weeks?

00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:18.160
No, it was like six weeks.

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:18.880
Six weeks.

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.920
So six weeks.

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.640
So I had to do a lot of like physical therapy.

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.519
Yes.

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.880
That was just the beginning.

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.079
Yeah, that was just beginning.

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:28.880
Just to get you, what was this off machines?

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:33.839
Was it off just how long were you not breathing on your own, or how long was the tube down your throat?

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.359
I think about five days.

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.400
Five days, okay.

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:42.000
I think five days, and then I was off the breathing tube and uh I was able to breathe on my own.

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:56.319
What were some of your injuries that you that you know because I I think if I recall, they said that you weren't going to Yeah, I wasn't gonna like walk, walk talk, eat, drink by myself ever again.

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.359
But I mean think about that for a second, right?

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.799
We take all this for granted.

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.440
Yeah.

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.359
Do you remember them telling you this?

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.079
Or no.

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:08.880
So my still my mom told me, and I was like, wow.

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:13.440
Yeah, I mean, it was literally your fight to to live.

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.960
You know what I mean?

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:24.480
Take me back to some of your best parts of recovery, like where you started getting your your your functions back, or you know, tell me about the good days of recovery.

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:27.039
The good days was when your son Mason came.

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.440
Man, that's your friend, not my son, too.

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.920
When your son, I love it, so formal.

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.759
No, but okay, tell me about that.

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:38.559
Yeah, I mean, because when we found out, my my it was surreal to me.

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:47.680
Yeah, I I thought, I just remember this can't be the Cummings family.

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.799
I I thought, like, this is who I've saved in my phone.

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:54.000
I don't even remember except just being stunned.

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.039
I just want you to know.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:03.759
And you know, when we told Mason, I knew it was probably, but that was further along, you know, when you're you know, when you're when you were, I think Madonna.

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.359
You were at Madonna, yeah.

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:11.359
And and so talk talk about how when Mason visited you in the hospital.

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:13.599
Like what because I know you don't remember all of it.

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.839
No, I remember you don't even remember me being there.

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.880
I don't remember you now.

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.079
Crazy.

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:27.920
I don't remember you being there, but I remember I remember like uh when me and Mason were like throwing the football in the gym, like playing Minecraft on the computers.

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.799
Yeah.

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:35.519
I remember talking to your mom and listening to your progress, you know, just hey, he's throwing a ball now.

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:37.680
And yeah, you know, think think about that.

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:44.559
People take that for granted when their kids throw a ball, you know, or do you throw your ball with your kid enough?

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.519
Do you know what I mean?

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:52.319
That's that's things that I thought about then, you know, because I mean, what if you didn't make it?

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.200
You know what I mean?

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:55.920
What other good things from recovery do you remember?

00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.359
Peanut butter cups.

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.559
Let's talk about that.

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.759
Oh my gosh.

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.599
I love my peanut butter cups.

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.519
I love everything peanut butter.

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:06.240
I'll eat, I'll eat pizza and peanut butter.

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.359
We talked about that.

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:12.559
No, that's that's yeah, that's I mean, I I think we brought you like a a Walmart load or something like that.

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.720
Oh yeah, just like a whole bunch of them.

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:17.599
Yeah, I I still have good memories of that, you know.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:21.680
So, so now, you know, let's talk about your turning point, you know.

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.880
So you you leave Madonna, okay.

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.160
Uh what happens next?

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:32.799
Do you are did you choose to try to go back to school or how was going, how was reintegrating back into normalcy?

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:38.559
So I didn't go to school for like because like I was only in the hospital for what two and a half months?

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.240
I mean maybe one and a half.

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.640
Yeah.

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:47.920
So when I got back, I just spent the summer and like the because like I tried in February.

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:51.200
So the rest of the time, like maybe through May.

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.359
I don't know.

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:58.640
I mean and you're you're behind our I was super behind.

00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:03.200
So at what point did you at what point was homeschooling the solution?

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.799
That's a funny story.

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.279
Yeah.

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:14.400
Because uh, when I got back into school, I decided to surround myself with all like the negative stuff, like the okay, the drugs and all that.

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.400
Okay, so let's talk about that.

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:21.680
So you went back to school, and you're telling me you fell into a even badder, a worse crowd.

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.319
Worse crowd.

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.680
Because they accepted you, yeah.

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:27.680
Because they were like, yeah, and and and and so you know.

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.839
What was that like?

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.440
A bunch of smoking.

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.400
That's all I remember.

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.200
Okay, okay.

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:38.240
Not all I remember, but all I all I did.

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:38.880
Okay.

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.480
That's all I did.

00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.039
Wow.

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.519
Yeah.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:46.799
And so, you know, you'd think, hey, I I've got a second chance at life, but you fell into this.

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.200
Yeah, I fell into this like rabbit hole of drinking, smoking.

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:51.759
Okay.

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.680
Yeah, yeah.

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.559
And all that.

00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.279
I mean, I didn't take any like syringes.

00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.519
I didn't know good, yeah.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:01.200
But I mean, none of none of that's good.

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:07.920
You're all 17, and I'm not lecturing you, but I'm saying to you, when did when did it start?

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.200
Okay, you fell.

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.720
There was a big turning point.

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.559
Tell me about the story of the glass.

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.880
Oh, this is this is where it gets better.

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.759
Oh, yeah, it does.

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.079
Okay.

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.400
So October.

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.000
I don't remember when it was.

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.559
That's okay.

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.759
You don't need to remember dates.

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.359
October 29th.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.440
Of last year.

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.400
Last year, yes.

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:26.880
Okay.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:30.400
Almost a year to the day.

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.200
Yeah, we're we're October 3rd, but yes.

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.240
Almost, yeah.

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.519
So, like here.

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:42.880
So I had to have like two stitches there, yeah, two stitches there, uh one stitch here, and glue right here.

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:50.640
So what happened was is I stuck my hand through glass because some kid decided to like we were at Ballast Pumpkin Patch.

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.519
Oh my god.

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:56.160
And uh, we were in like the egg, like where like you throw all them balls.

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.799
Yeah, yeah.

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.279
Yeah.

00:26:57.519 --> 00:27:05.279
And I don't know, some kid was like throwing a ball at someone, and yeah, I it went like directly under my foot and I slipped.

00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:09.359
I tried to get my balance and I had my hand out like this.

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:13.759
Yes, the glass kind of just yeah, it smashed into the glass.

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.000
Yeah, my hand smashed into the glass and went through it.

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:18.640
So were you horsing around?

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:22.000
Were you like like why was that the turning point?

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:24.079
Like, were you doing something you weren't supposed to be doing?

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.920
No, I mean, just I I was running around, like having fun.

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.640
Sure, sure.

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:38.160
And then being a kid, yeah, being a kid, but then by then that kid dropped the ball while I threw it or something.

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:42.319
I don't know, I don't remember seeing it, but all I knew is a ball slip.

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:52.160
I a ball was under my foot, I slipped hand glass, and I went to the like instant emergency.

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.920
Okay, or like emerging kick.

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:58.160
I got two stitches, two stitches, one stitch, glue.

00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.240
So in total, five stitches.

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.720
So that happened, and then you told me something about what am I doing?

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:08.000
Yeah, and then and then I was like, What am I doing?

00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:12.480
Because like at that time I was still in school doing all the drugs and stuff, yeah.

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.400
And I was like, What am I doing?

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.039
Right.

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:19.440
Like I it was like it was a huge like reality check.

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.480
Yeah, reality check.

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.039
Okay, yeah.

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:24.240
So who were you talking to when you said, What are you doing?

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:27.200
I wasn't, I I just thought to myself, how that's what I'm saying.

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.960
Oh, yourself, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:31.759
And and then did you answer yourself?

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.480
I mean, did you because you know you're sitting there?

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.839
What did what what am I doing?

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:37.759
Yeah, did you answer yourself back?

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.920
Did you what were you thinking?

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:46.160
I guess I was just goofing around being an idiot, but yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:49.519
So so your family's laughing in the background there.

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.079
That's okay.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:53.680
This is this is real podcast, unedited.

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:56.640
But how did you turn?

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.599
What what turned?

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.480
What changed?

00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:07.200
The thing that changed was I was dropped into homeschool, so I got into homeschool, and I've been doing that since October.

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.160
So of last year.

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.039
Of last year, yeah.

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.319
Okay, so okay, yeah.

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.400
So then homeschool?

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:12.880
All right.

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.680
What does that do?

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.799
What did that do for you?

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:19.920
It it pulled you out of the of the like crowd that I was in.

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:30.000
Did you try to seek the social media channel still while you were homeschooled or while you were in your house, or was it restricted?

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:35.839
Uh no, I mean I've I had Instagram like since August of last year.

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:46.799
So I mean, I I've tried to download Snapchat, but then I've you know kind of put myself, pulled myself, well, my parents basically.

00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.279
They pulled so it wasn't you as your parents.

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.559
It's not, yeah.

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:53.359
I mean, the last time I downloaded it, I pulled myself away.

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:56.880
Yeah, because it was just like boring and useless.

00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.640
I didn't really see a purpose.

00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.400
Yeah, I could just get people's Numbers.

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:00.880
Yeah.

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.039
Yeah.

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.680
And talk.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.240
And talk.

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.559
Yeah.

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.359
Weird.

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:06.000
That's a lesson that we could all learn, right?

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.359
Like talk.

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:13.519
So talk, talk to a kid listening right now who is scrolling.

00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.720
They are looking for validation.

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:19.039
They hope people like their pictures.

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.680
They want to be accepted by the in-crowd.

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.920
They want people commenting on their post.

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.519
Talk to that kid right now.

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:27.200
It's not that important, kid.

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:30.079
No, yeah, it's not that important.

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:38.960
I mean, when you're 60, you're not gonna like remember who liked your post, who commented, who reposted.

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.799
Oh god, that's so true, man.

00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.839
That's so profound.

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.640
It's true.

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:45.279
When you are 60, no one's gonna care.

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.720
Yeah, no one's gonna care.

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:50.480
And and and and the fakeness.

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:56.880
When you see a perfect life on Instagram, which did you did you put a did you portray a good, pretty good life on Instagram?

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:59.200
Or were you like what was your posts like?

00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.680
Before?

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.519
Before oh, before?

00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:03.839
So I didn't really post much on Instagram.

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.039
I post more on TikTok.

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.240
Okay, TikTok.

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:13.519
When I posted on TikTok, I posted a bunch of like like food reviews with my friends.

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:13.759
Yeah.

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.799
So no one could tell.

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:18.640
It wasn't like help me keyboard warriors or anything like that.

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:21.519
It was more like just goofing around.

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.839
You weren't even posting your feelings online.

00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:24.480
No.

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.039
See?

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:29.680
Well, I mean, I guess I was because I was like reposting like sad stuff.

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.160
Okay.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.400
Okay.

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.799
Okay, so that's a that's a sign too.

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.519
I haven't been on TikTok forever.

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.240
Good for you.

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.039
Good for you.

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:38.559
But you're just on Instagram now.

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.000
Just Instagram solely.

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.640
Yeah.

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:46.160
And do you post now or um I posted when I went to prom with my ex.

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.720
Okay.

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:51.680
So you went to prom this year?

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.079
Yeah.

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.039
With your ex.

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.519
Yeah.

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.160
Really?

00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:54.960
How was that?

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:57.119
Oh, it was all right.

00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:00.000
I mean, it wasn't like uh just like stand and dance.

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.640
It was more of a sit around and talk.

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.599
That's cool.

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:03.920
Yeah.

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.480
Yeah.

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:08.079
Well, I'm sure that's a whole nother podcast for later, my friend.

00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.359
That's a whole series.

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:18.400
I want to talk about now the turning point where you truly on your path to healing, right?

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:22.079
And you're still healing and you're still battling through it, I'm sure.

00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:30.480
But talk to me about what part faith or your belief in God played in where you are sitting right now.

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:41.200
God has basically like helped me through all the challenges and tribulations, just all my challenges and tribulations, just everything.

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:46.160
He's where's he where did he where did you where did you run back into God?

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.599
Was it after the homeschool?

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.640
Was it after prompt?

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:51.839
Was it after the you put your glass, your hand through the glass?

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.319
Like, okay.

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.200
It was after that.

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:55.599
Okay, so how did you reach out to him?

00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:02.640
So I started like really reading like going into my Bible more by yourself or because of the switch?

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:10.079
Well, mainly, well, I mean, I started taking notes from switch, kind of like a whole note thing on my phone.

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:16.960
And I put like just whatever the message is about verses.

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:17.680
Yeah, yeah.

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:21.039
And like I've highlighted a lot in my Bible.

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:25.680
You met good people like people.

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.759
Like, you know, some some pretty cool people.

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:39.839
I mean, talk about the people, the kids in church that you met, and and we don't need to say all their names, but let's talk about the kind of people or are they different?

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.880
A little bit.

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.359
Okay.

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:46.559
Just how they act and like how they view view the world.

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.200
Yeah.

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.559
They view the world.

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:58.240
They view it from like a peaceful, more like like if you do something wrong, then it's okay, but just don't do it again.

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:04.400
Would you say they their values are lined up like yours?

00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:04.720
Yeah.

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.000
What are some of the values you have now that you didn't have before?

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:11.679
What are some of the things you value most in your faith that you never had?

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.400
I value Jesus Christ right now.

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.679
So amen, brother.

00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:15.920
Yeah.

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.719
I love that, man.

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:19.280
I love how your energy just shifted when you said that.

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:27.599
Tell me, tell me when when if someone's uncomfortable even saying the name Jesus Christ, like what would you say to them?

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.280
He's always there for you.

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:39.760
Like through like your toughest battles, your I don't know, your uh how do you talk to him now?

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:43.199
Like, like I know he doesn't have Snapchat, right?

00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:43.679
Right?

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:46.320
Like, how do you how do you reach out to Jesus now?

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:50.400
Uh I mainly pray at night or in the mornings.

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.960
Yeah.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:54.719
Well, I mean, I didn't pray this morning because uh we were in a rush.

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:58.639
And we were wrecking this morning five miles this morning.

00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.159
Yeah, five miles this morning.

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:04.079
But uh yeah, because I woke about like 4 40 and no.

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:06.239
Yeah, that you're already a morning person.

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.119
Oh my gosh, no.

00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.079
You will be soon.

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:12.079
No, but uh you gave your testimony at Switch, yeah, right?

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:13.199
And life church.

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:15.039
Yeah, I like life church, yeah.

00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.360
Yeah.

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:18.239
Were you there last Wednesday too?

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:20.079
Yeah, I'm I'm there almost every Wednesday.

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.679
Yeah, you look forward to it.

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.039
Yeah, I look forward to it.

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:26.480
If you don't make it there, is it almost like you miss something big?

00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:28.800
I I don't remember a time where I missed it.

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.360
Really?

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:30.880
That's awesome.

00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:33.440
But I think I missed it once.

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:33.920
Okay.

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:39.840
And well, like that was because I went after the hospital and I haven't missed it.

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:42.400
Oh, since after the hot you haven't missed switch?

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.360
Well, maybe once.

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.800
Maybe once or yeah.

00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:47.119
No, that's that's because of uh it's important to you.

00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:47.920
Yeah, it's very important.

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.360
It's your life.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:54.400
So now, how do you look at acceptance?

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:56.000
Like, how do you look at people now?

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.039
Do you still need to be as accepted as you needed before?

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:01.599
I mean, I'm sure, but how do you look at it now?

00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:05.679
Like when you meet new people, how do you how does Will feel when I meet new people?

00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:11.519
I d like I I mean, some like some of my friends around me seek a acceptance.

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.880
I mean, yeah, yeah.

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:15.519
But like I just I seek friendship.

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:17.360
I mean that's okay, that's fair.

00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.800
That's the main thing I focus on.

00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.119
Yeah.

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:24.079
But like if I mean one of my best friends, he found God, apparently.

00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:30.079
And like I really did you help him in his faith journey, or was it just you he he was it was just him.

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.039
Okay, okay.

00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:33.440
His uncle, I think, helped him.

00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:36.320
And yeah.

00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:43.599
If someone wants to take a step towards healing, what's the first thing you would encourage them to do?

00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:55.920
Say someone's depressed, say they're they've never sought help before, they they don't even know they have a problem, but they know they're playing the sad music, they're they're they're just they don't think they should be alive anymore.

00:36:56.239 --> 00:37:01.519
What's what's one step they can take to start the healing process?

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:05.440
If I don't want to talk to anybody, I don't want to, I don't want to get any help.

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:07.199
Because you know when you ask people, do you need help?

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.159
Guess what they always say?

00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:09.440
No, nope, yeah.

00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:11.199
What would you say to that person right now?

00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:13.280
I would say Jesus Christ.

00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.000
Wow.

00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:15.199
Okay, oh God.

00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.000
Yes.

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.840
I mean, you didn't say a doctor.

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.079
No.

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:22.079
Don't say a psychiatrist or a psychologist.

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:22.320
No.

00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:23.360
Tell me about that.

00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:28.719
Like, someone is depressed, his name's let's just make up a name, Derek.

00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.199
All right.

00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.480
What would you say to Derek?

00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:32.400
Like, Derek's 15 years old.

00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:33.280
Derek?

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:38.559
Seek it like acceptance to God.

00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:41.679
Don't seek acceptance to like your friends or anything.

00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.159
Yeah.

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:43.599
Seek acceptance to God.

00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.000
Yeah.

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:44.800
What does that mean?

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:46.320
Well, don't, yeah.

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:52.159
So you, I mean, someone will you could have someone pray over you, you could pray for yourself.

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.840
Would you pray for Derek?

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:55.440
Yeah, I definitely would.

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:56.159
Yeah.

00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:56.559
Yeah.

00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:57.039
Yeah.

00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:01.599
I mean, what do you say when people are like, man, really?

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:03.679
Jesus Christ, really?

00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:07.519
Like, does that does that put you off?

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.400
Does that offend you?

00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:10.000
Does it or do you just, you know?

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:13.280
I mean, it somewhat upsets me.

00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:13.840
Sure, sure.

00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:17.119
But like, it doesn't upset me to the point where I'm like angry at them.

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:17.519
Okay.

00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:17.840
Yeah.

00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:21.199
Like, the only person I get angry at is my sister.

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:23.280
She's gonna have time to rebuttal here later.

00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:25.039
Why do you get angry at your sister?

00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.320
Because she's your sister.

00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.199
I mean, yeah.

00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:27.760
She's fit.

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.280
Well, how old are you, Kenzie?

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.840
15.

00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:31.519
So so let me ask you this.

00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:33.920
Your sister is the one that found you.

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:34.960
Yeah, yeah.

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:41.199
You know, how's your relationship now versus, you know, with your sister before?

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:48.079
So before I really like like forced my sister to do things, like yeah, yeah.

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:52.800
But now I'm just like, I guess like loving toward my sister.

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.199
Okay.

00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:53.599
Okay.

00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:55.920
I mean, besides that, she's my sister.

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:58.320
She's a sophomore now.

00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:05.440
She was a freshman last year, but uh I made fun of her because she was a freshman at times, not all the time.

00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:11.440
But what what what role did you think your sister played in your incident?

00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:21.760
My sister played a huge role in like letting the firemen in because my sister, I think she's the one who called 901.

00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:24.480
So yeah.

00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:25.360
Yeah.

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:25.920
Yeah.

00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:28.079
I mean, yeah, it's yeah.

00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:32.559
What what are some words you describe your sister with about that in that situation?

00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:33.599
Brave.

00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:35.519
Really freaking brave.

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:38.559
I mean, I love my sister to death.

00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:39.039
Yeah.

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:41.440
And I I think I always will.

00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:42.320
Yeah, of course.

00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.199
You better.

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:45.920
I mean, you're here probably because of her.

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:46.400
Yeah.

00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:47.280
You know?

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:53.039
If you could summarize your story, Will, in one sentence of of encouragement, what would it be?

00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:55.360
One sentence of encouragement.

00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:57.360
Yeah, I know it's a deep question, right?

00:39:57.440 --> 00:40:05.920
Like maybe it doesn't have to be one sentence, but you have people listening and and they're looking for the bright side of things.

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:10.880
How can you encourage those people to say better days are ahead?

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.880
Jesus Christ.

00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.760
He will help you.

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:14.320
Yeah.

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:14.800
Yeah.

00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.760
He's he's been there for me since day one.

00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.559
Yeah.

00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:19.360
Yeah.

00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:22.159
But yeah.

00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:25.440
I mean, just don't stop your faith.

00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:25.760
Yeah.

00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:27.599
Don't discontinue it.

00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:29.599
Don't seek for better things.

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:32.719
Can people join you, Will?

00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:34.880
Like your friends are going to be listening to this.

00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:35.119
Yeah.

00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:39.199
I mean, would you invite your friends, any of your friends, to join you?

00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:40.320
To join me?

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:40.960
Oh yeah.

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:41.519
Heck yeah.

00:40:41.679 --> 00:40:46.079
I've tried inviting which I've tried inviting my best friend, but uh he's not a church person.

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:47.280
So that's okay.

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.079
Yeah.

00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:50.800
The people are gonna be where they're at, you know?

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:55.760
And so let me ask you this what's the life you're building for yourself now?

00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:59.199
You know, and and what excites you most about the future?

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:02.719
What excites me is that I'm still alive today.

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:05.039
Yes, yeah, yes, amen, brother.

00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:06.480
Yeah, I'm still doing well.

00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.440
I'm glad you're here, bro.

00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:07.920
Thank you.

00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:09.199
I mean that.

00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:10.239
And you're doing well.

00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:12.559
What are some of the things you look forward to?

00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:17.679
I I definitely look forward to graduation?

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:19.679
I mean, graduates, yeah.

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:20.639
Yeah, yeah.

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.760
A hundred percent.

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.800
Done with high school.

00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:24.159
Done with high school.

00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:24.880
My gosh.

00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.519
Yeah, yeah.

00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:27.039
What what are some aspirations?

00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:29.199
And and and this is not like cut in stone.

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:33.119
Like when I was a kid, I told people that I wanted to be an astronaut.

00:41:33.199 --> 00:41:34.960
I told them I wanted to be a guitar player.

00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:36.159
But now you're retail.

00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:42.079
You know, what what do you think you what are some of your dreams?

00:41:42.320 --> 00:41:46.559
Um my dream is to become like a plumber or electrician.

00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:47.360
Okay, yeah.

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:47.679
Okay.

00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:49.760
I mean, I'm planning on going to Metro.

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:50.719
Okay, good.

00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:53.599
So you already in your mind know you want to do that.

00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.679
You know college is voluntary, right?

00:41:55.760 --> 00:41:57.199
That's something you want to do.

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:59.360
That's something you want to do for yourself.

00:41:59.440 --> 00:41:59.679
Yeah.

00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:00.719
And you work?

00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:01.599
You have a job now?

00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.400
I have a job now.

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:02.880
Yeah, yeah.

00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:03.840
Tell me, tell me about your.

00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:06.000
So I work at Westlake Ace Hardware.

00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:08.000
Yes, and you know I always go there.

00:42:08.320 --> 00:42:12.639
I never seen you there, but I go there and I stare at all the barbecue stuff.

00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:13.119
Yeah.

00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:16.960
Well, when you come in, I'm gonna say, Hey, Jay's here again.

00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:20.880
No, why is it important for you to have a job now?

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:23.920
Like, I mean, do you even need to work?

00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:25.119
I mean, why do you work?

00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:30.400
I feel like it's like a like something I can grow on.

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:39.280
Yeah, like like when I like met new people, I would get like really nervous or almost like out of words, lots of words.

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.559
I don't know what to say to people.

00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.119
Yes.

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:43.199
Yes.

00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:54.480
But yeah, I mean what about your comfortableness of talking about this?

00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:59.360
You know, do people come up to you now and like there's well, what do you want them to feel like?

00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:03.840
And you know, like, because it's a it's a hard subject, you know, to talk about.

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:07.599
It's very difficult to, you know, to experience.

00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:08.960
And here's Chewy.

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:11.199
My dog is in the studio.

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:13.199
How do you want people to approach you now?

00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:24.559
Um so after I like shared my testimony and everything, I got like approached at church, like by a lot of people who are like, hey, thank you for sharing that.

00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:28.000
I got approached maybe a few days ago.

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:30.480
Well, no, what day is it today?

00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:30.960
Friday?

00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:31.760
Friday.

00:43:31.840 --> 00:43:33.119
Yeah, yeah, Friday.

00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:34.000
Hi, Chewy.

00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:45.039
So I got a approach at church on Sunday, last Sunday, saying, She was saying, Did you speak at church at Switch the other day, like a couple weeks ago?

00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:45.519
Yeah.

00:43:45.679 --> 00:43:48.000
And I said yes, and she was like, Thank you.

00:43:48.159 --> 00:43:55.679
You helped a lot of like my my friend is a uh switch group leader, so apparently I helped a lot of kids.

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.840
Man, that's so cool, bro.

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:59.280
Yeah, it's great.

00:43:59.840 --> 00:44:01.280
That's a big deal, Will.

00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:06.559
I mean, I have just seen you grow in the last year or so.

00:44:08.400 --> 00:44:10.639
This is a hard subject to talk about, yeah.

00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:16.000
You know, but you're okay with sharing your story and you can talk about it.

00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:24.800
And you know, a lot of people won't understand, but for the people who need this most, I mean, I think it's going to, I think it's gonna help you save them, bro.

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:25.199
Yeah.

00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:26.000
I hope so.

00:44:26.239 --> 00:44:28.880
I mean, one life saved is is a lot.

00:44:29.119 --> 00:44:31.280
One life saved is a milestone for me.

00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:32.400
Yeah, yeah.

00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:38.639
Is there anything else that uh you want to say, Will, and before I interview the rest of your family?

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:39.599
Good luck.

00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:40.960
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:42.239
I know it's gonna be hard.

00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:45.280
Yeah what do you want to say to your family right now?

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:46.719
I love you guys so much.

00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:48.079
Yeah, I love them.

00:44:48.239 --> 00:44:49.920
Yeah, I wouldn't be here without them.

00:44:50.159 --> 00:44:54.159
I mean, who would pay my uh hospital bill?

00:44:54.320 --> 00:44:58.239
Who would pay the ambulance bill besides my parents?

00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:02.239
I mean the the time, but the time is the most important thing.

00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:03.039
Time, yeah.

00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:05.840
Time and and now you have time.

00:45:06.159 --> 00:45:11.199
And I'd like to do a follow-up in the future, you know, just to keep your progress going.

00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:21.199
And I appreciate you allowing me to enter a portion of your life that is very hard to talk about, but I love the comeback story.

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:26.079
Yeah, I mean, your your test was your testimony, you know what I mean?

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:45.840
And I encourage you, Will, to keep bettering yourself and in just know that I think, and I don't want to place this burden on your shoulders, but I think you could be a great role model for kids or adults who had an ideation, you know, of of not being around, of wanting to take their life.

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:48.880
And yeah, I I take this very serious.

00:45:49.119 --> 00:46:02.559
And and remember, if if if you're in a position that you are feeling that you're not worth it or that you're depressed, or that you're having ideations, I encourage you to dial 988.

00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:04.639
And I encourage you to reach out to the hotline.

00:46:04.800 --> 00:46:09.760
I encourage you to reach out to friends, I encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ.

00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:14.639
I encourage you to do whatever it is to take one step of out of wherever you're at.

00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:18.079
And will any last bits of advice for anyone?

00:46:19.119 --> 00:46:28.880
Just seek Jesus Christ, seek Jesus Christ, seek God, read your Bible, and you're devotional daily.

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.280
Yeah.

00:46:29.360 --> 00:46:36.480
So I mean it's it's it's you you need you need the reminder, you know, day in and day out.

00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:41.280
But uh I'm proud of you, Will, and I I'm I'm proud to uh be in your life.

00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:46.000
And again, you know, it it the words that people need to hear.

00:46:46.159 --> 00:46:47.840
I I am glad you're here, brother.

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:48.239
Thank you.

00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:49.199
Glad you're here.

00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:50.000
All right.

00:46:51.599 --> 00:46:54.239
Thanks for tuning in to the connection.

00:46:54.400 --> 00:47:01.039
It's been a fantastic journey exploring stories, insights, and inspirations that bridge our lives.

00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:04.880
Remember, every connection has the power to transport.

00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:08.159
Please subscribe, rate, and review.

00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:10.159
Your feedback needs to go.

00:47:10.719 --> 00:47:15.679
In this connected world, let's make meaningful connections that enrich lives.

00:47:16.079 --> 00:47:20.000
Now, signing off until next time, disconnect.

00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:22.559
Disconnect it and let's go.