What would you do to improve Richmond? Why? How? Use your own knowledge, observations and personal experiences to support your answer. Give specific details.

There are quite of few things that i believe Richmond really needs to improve on;such as transportation, crime, and the need to be able to get to where you 'll need to go without walking a mile just to get there. I will have to say that as of today i have been living in Richmond for approximately 6 years now and these are the problems that i have experienced since moving down here.

For starters i would really have to dig deep into the transportation issue. Now being as though i am originally from a more live city which is Philadelphia, P.A i am used to more than (2) transportations sytems. This have really been hard for me to deal with since living down here but as time went pass i seemed to deal with it over the years but it would be more usefull to have like an underground subway, or the (EL) train you know what i mean.

Then i really can't compare the crime that is going on in Richmond to Philly but, i can say there was a time down here that to me was really outrageous. These outrageous acts went down at the beginning of the childrens school year for all that crime to go down in such a short period of time was crazy. I just think God that nothing happened to me or my family and friends because, ther are some crazy minded people out there who needs help or just wants some serious attention. Now with the serious attention part i believe that if it takes people to actually go that route into killing another human being their issues have to be more deeper then how the public make it seem. they might say they need psychiatric help but maybe thats not the main issue maybe the public really need to take the time out and go into their minds more deeper then just calling them crazy.

Lastly, i would have to say that it shouldn't take anybody a mile or two just to get to what suppose to be a corner store, if i were the government or whoever i would make it more convenient to get to a location. It's crazy how i have to actually call a cab or take a bus spending my money just to get some deodarant or sugar you know what i am saying. Then my thing is everything down here close so early like if i have the midnight cravings and want some chinese food or some icecream or something i cant do it because either the store is closed or i have no way of getting there. The buses stop running at a certain time which i am clearly not used to that i have to get things at a early hand. So this is my input about how i think richmond should improve make it so that there is more then (2) transportation system, bend the laws a little to prevent much crime, a store on every corner, chinese stores open till 4 in the mourning, and buses running all night. So everybody should vote for Loretta to be the leader of Richmond to live happy and not tired all the time from walking miles and miles.

What one experience has significantly changed your life for the better? Why?

There have been many experiences that i have endured in my life, that has changed me for the better. As a child i was used of the fast paced life no worries and definetely no responsibilties. Now as an adult things are some what different now days then how they were when i was a child. I now have to walk on my own two feet and lead my own lead and by knowing this easy concept i can now be successful in my own knowledge of thinking. Growing up day by day keeps me going and not giving up on what have now started. Knowing that you are and can be a responsible young adult by doing what you have to do to survive the obstacles in a young adult life may be hard at first but one day will accomplish and succeding that goal.

As a teenager i moved to Richmond ,VA. With my mother, only brother, and younger sister moving to a new environment and state for the very first time was kind of scary. Not knowing how these people down south are like, their dress code, and the way they talk, and not being around my family and friends was my main concern. But the only thing i didn't see coming was how moving down here would effect me. So being as though i was so furious about moving down here i became depressed, cutting school, and dealing with the wrong stuff. Among all, i started dealing with the wrong kind of people and when i say that i mean people who had a bad influence on me.

In the midst of it all i dropped out of high school when i was that close to graduating. At first i thought it was fun not being in school, enjoying my life how i wanted it to be, and working makeing money. Then as time went pass i realized that i ended up back where i started living life like i was a young kid again but, in reality i had to put a roof over my head, eat, basically provide for myself. Knowing that i am not a kid again i was responsible for the actions that i make as a young adult and it was hard starting from scratch. Even when i spent all that time laying back and not takeing care of business thinking everything was all peaches and creme deep down inside that person that i betrayed to be was not me.

After crying, giving up sometimes, makeing my way to the top then falling off again and again due to my failure of perserverance i finally called it a quits. I was sick and tired of sitting around and not doing something with my life and blaming everybody that ever let me down. Going through all that hurt and pain as a youngin' of trying to get myself back on track by myself made me realize that i can do this on my own without looking for someone to hold my hand. I now can see that sometimes it takes years of crying, and stress to push you harder in life. That's how i made it through dealing with that experience made me wake up and say "Yess, i can persevere!! and most definetely changed my life.

L.I.F.E

YOU AND ME TOGETHER THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY LIKE, I DON'T WORRY CAUSE EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALLRIGHT
PEOPLE KEEP TALKING THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY LIKE, BUT ALL I KNOW IS EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALLRIGHT

THESE LYRICS TO ME IS JUST BASICALLY SAYIN THAT THROUGH OUT WHATEVER YOU MAY GO THROUGH IN LIFE THE UPS AND DOWNS EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE OKAY AND EVEN BETTER WITH YOUR SOULMATE BEHIND YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY HOLDING DOWN