Outside the law

outside the law

El proceso de escritura en Soy Autor ha demostrado ir The allá, writing process in en Soy una Autor evoques an authentic más al convertirse experiencia auténtica de experience of self discovery. The following piece is the auto descubrimiento. La presente obra es el resultado result of the collaborative work between students and del trabajo colaborativo entre estudiantes y docentes, teachers to find the hear t of the story, through the para encontrar el corazón de su historia y reflejarla en publication of their first illustrated Memoir. su primer memoir ilustrado.

With the support of:

En colaboración con:

Embajada de los Estados Unidos El Salvador

outside the law

It was in 1995 when a life that was as calm as the sky, became a dark storm that I didn’t even see coming.

I was barely 14 years old,

I had a good family that was

economically stable.

We didn’t have the need for anything.

It was then when I met some boys that later became my friends.

It was with them that a life

outside the border of the law began.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into nor that this was going to ruin my life.

But those bad friendships contaminated that young man and lead him to living a disorderly and outlaw life.

The street was dark and cold, like the night.

It can transform young people into other people.

Years later I was held in a prison where it was so difficult to live, it was like walking on the edge of a razor blade.

But in a day just like the rest of them, I woke up in my cell and laying on top of my cot, I looked around me.

I saw my cell mates, some were still asleep and others had a.

lost gaze

It was then that I thought:

Is this how I want to live for the rest of my life?

I felt such an immense pain that I cannot even explain, my soul was hurting and it was screaming:

“Do not continue like this�.

I felt that sadness was covering my mind and my soul was darkened endlessly.

I felt like crying,

shouting, running away.

But I knew I was not going to get anything out of that. It was then that I made the best decision:

“I’ll make my life a new life”.

It wasn’t easy to let go of my way of living.

Even more so when you’re in the middle of so many people, that they don’t even think about the idea of changing.

Today I am more at peace, waiting for the moment that I can resume my life, with my family and my children. Because the big storm is gone now and I will soon see the light of the sun in its

totality.

MyMe name is Armando llamo Betty

My family name is Rivas

Mi familia es de apellido Hernández Rodríguez I’m impatient, friendly and serious

Soy amigable, curiosa y un poco amable Brother of Nohemy

Hermana Patricia, Mirna, Dinora, Delmi,trees Melissa, I grew up de surrounded by forests, Balsamo and Julissa fresh air in Sonsonate city

I like playing basketball, writing, and playing chessy amor Crecí entre la naturaleza, entre paredes de adobe I feel the strengths of a giant En la ciudad de La Palma, Chalatenango I give the world my inspiration

Me gusta aprender, divertirme y escribir and my wishes to change the world

siento contenta y nerviosa I’mMe afraid of failure and of not fitting in I would love al to mundo see my family happydeand united Le regalo mis ganas luchar I’m Armando and I’m hardworking.

Me da miedo perder lo que más amo Me gustaría ver a mis papás y a mi hijo Soy Betty y soy luchadora.