What do I stand for?

What do I stand for? WHAT is the ghetto? On the one hand, it's a literal space, erected from barriers of race and class. But it's also a metaphorical space, a set of stereotypes about communities and cultures. Anthony Mundine,(born 21 May 1975) is an Australian professional boxer and former rugby league player. He is a former, two-time WBA Super Middleweight Champion, a IBO Middleweight Champion, and an interim WBA Light Middleweight Champion boxer and a New South Wales State of Origin representative footballer. Anthony is from "The Block." The Block is a ghetto in Australia which is more than often neglected. Anthony's main goal in life is to train and coach younger boys on how to carry themselves like men; he does so by keeping them in his boxing academy. This is similar to me in many ways. One of which is also to keep kids off the streets by keeping them occupied in school or sports etc. This story completely relates to me and where I come from. I originate from a community where if you are black or brown, you either go to jail, catch a case from the feds, a father or dead. I've always wanted better for myself. When I was 15, I was into the wrong crowd. See, in my neighborhood, its always having to fit in or risk the danger of being alienated. That means getting beat up or mugged on a day-to-day basis. Now, this wrong crowd was a "gang", or that's what they referred to themselves as. It was more like a clique that did stupid, idiotic stuff. One night, we decided to go out and tag up some walls. Boy, was that a mistake... We were in Inglewood, near Lennox. They were tagging and asked me what I was going to add to the wall. I thought about it for a minutes and then I finally got it: Inglewood Sentinels. But the mood changed very fast. As soon as I grabbed to spray can, in the distance, we heard a car pull up. Out the window, a guy, our age, screamed out the window, "WHERE YOU FROM?!" The leader of or pack threw up and I and a W for Inglewood. Then the other guys from the car reached into their waist. We all took off running. They starting shooting. There was 7 people in our group at the time and two of us got shot. I say us because I was one of them. Although, it only grazed my ribs, it was still the eye opening experience that turned around the course of my life. It made me realize how precious life is. When I was running, the first thing that came to mind was "did I love? Did I do anything that I will be remembered for?" The answer to both of those questions was no. I lived a life of hate. Despising everyone. But that experience was the turning point. Since then, I've engaged myself in my academic and sport to occupy my time more efficiently. When I am of age, I wish to do the same a Anothony Mundine, keep these youngins out of the street by occupying their time more creatively. That is what I stand for. http://www.sbs.com.au/theblock/#/anthony