Meet Edwin Burgos by Angel Guzman 

Edwin was recruited into the Worcester Aftercare Program in April 2009 while he was in a locked facility. During the next six months I had the privilege of meeting and mentoring Edwin on a weekly basis. After building rapport with Edwin it was hard to associate such an articulate, smart, and genuine young man as a youthful offender. Edwin has meant a lot to me. He has taught me a great deal about humility, transformation and overcoming life’s obstacles.  And because of his leadership traits and example, Edwin was promoted as the first Peer Leader of the Worcester Aftercare Program.

 

Recently Edwin and I had the following conversation:

Q. Give a quick snapshot of the old you.
A.” I was reckless, I fought every day and did not worry about who I was hurting along the way, and it was all about me. My life was about gang banging, hustling and selling drugs. I was lost, my GPS was not working.”

Q. Where are you now in your life
A. “Steady with peace. I still have my ups and downs but now I try to do things right. I am not gang banging or hustling and I consider other peoples feelings besides myself.”

Q. What decisions did you have to make for the changes to happen in your life?
A.” I wanted to live and realized that if I continued the same life style I would not be here now. I also did not want to put mother through the pain and suffering of being locked up again.”

Q. What are some of the challenges you face today?
A. “Because of my history the biggest challenge is smoking weed. I do not like being confronted because it brings back the old me, and because of my record another struggle I have is finding work. I have already been denied a couple of jobs.”

Q. What has helped you make this transformation?
A.” Straight Ahead Ministries and becoming a Peer Leader. My mom, family and girlfriend. And most importantly my belief in Christ.”

Q. What does it mean to be a Peer Leader?
A. “It means a lot, I never thought I would be a peer leader. There is a lot of accountability the youth look up to you, and they are watching your every move. I am a role model to the youth.”

Q. What are some of the things you want to accomplish and how does your future look like?
A. “ I am almost finished with my GED and want to enroll at Quinsigamond Community College, I want to be an electrician. And being a peer leader, I am also considering Human Services to talk to kids about my past and knock some sense into their heads. I want to tell them that I was once lost but now I am found!”