If I didn't dance, I don't know what I would do.  Probably turn into a cold-blooded ax murderer or end up in prison ... seems that a lot of kids my age are ...

I have been dancing since I was small, I do primarily hip hop and/or break dancing.  Dancing has always come very naturally to me.  I love dancing; it helps me forget of my own problems and gives me something to shoot for.  I'd like to become a professional hip-hop dancer and dance on the famous stages across America (think Philip Chbeeb, Haspop, Robert Muraine, Lazylegz Luca Patuelli, etc,; they are all the kings of hip-hop).

I live in the projects in the Bronx, right in the heart of New York City.  Where I live, my neighborhood is full of criminal activity, drug use, and prostitution at night; it is very dangerous to go out once the sun sets.  Seems the heat we've been having has only made people meaner, and so I stay in my room or go into the garage and break dance or listen to my music.

I learned how to dance on my own.  Taught myself.  I love it.  It's a great way to keep in shape and it's a great way to make friends/influence people.  I have been told I have talent, but I don't think I'm good enough to end up on a show like "America's Got Talent".  I mean, once you've seen one hip-hopper, you've practically seen 'em all, unless you have pincche and/or originality like Lazylegz, who dances on crutches, for gosh sakes!  He was on AGT a few years back and I personally think he should have taken the top prize; he was fantastic!!

Lazylegz is my hero.  I just admire him so much!!

I have a mom, a grandmother, and three little brothers.  I love them all, but mom works three jobs to provide for us, and grandmother stays home to take care of us kids while mom's working.  My brothers are six, eight, and ten.  I'm twelve; I'll be thirteen in four months, in December (I was born on Christmas Day).  They're okay, but DeMarcus (the little one) is disabled: he has CP and is in a wheelchair and he has to be cared for around the clock.  He is severely handicapped.

I love my family, and I love my friends; I just don't like the fact that DeMarcus is handicapped or the fact that I live in a shitty-assed neighborhood where the punks don't seem to give a friggin' damn about anything but themselves.  I don't like the fact that mom has to work so hard and is hardly home, just so she can put food on the table or clothes upon our backs; mom deserves much better than this!  I wish pops was here, but he bailed out when DeMarcus was diagnosed with the CP.

What a motherfucker he is.  He don't even call on our birthdays or on holidays or nothing!  We don't even get cards or child support money! If we did, we'd be living somewhere a lot nicer!  I hate him ....

If I ever see pops, I just might end up killing him, he's made me so mad ...

Well, I feel like I gotta let off some frustration again, so I'm gonna go and breakdance for a while, then hang out with my brothers.  Until another time, this is Cornelius saying so long!  Take care!

~Cornelius Jackson.