In the pages that follow, I take you on a deeply personal journey from the streets to the docks, a journey that is both inspirational and eye-opening. As a Labor Relations Representative for the Dock Workers Union (DWU) Local 100, I have become a pillar of my community, but my path to this position was far from easy.My story begins as a casual worker on the waterfront, juggling two jobs while caring for my mother and pursuing an education at San Francisco City College to become an alcohol and drug counselor. It was during this challenging period that my health took a turn for the worse. A chronic smoker, my left lung collapsed due to fatigue and the toll of cigarettes. This health crisis forced me to confront the reality of my situation and make a continue down a path of self-destruction or make a change for the better.