Many simple-minded people would believe that gang violence, sex, drugs, and abuse of any type would bring the worst out of people. However, Luis J. Rodriguez is a man that can prove that theory wrong. He has attended many universities including University of California, Los Angeles, Cal State Los Angeles, and University of California, Berkeley and with this has accomplished various goals. However, before these accomplishments many dramatic events happened in his life. For instance, he almost committed suicide and acquired a serious injury at the hands of his brother. Luis J. Rodriguez's childhood, teenage life, gang associations, and education have influenced his writings as expressed through his awards achieved.
             Luis J. Rodriguez has spent his early childhood in Texas where he was born as well. However, he lived in Mexico until the age of two. His father was a respected man in Mexico, because he was the principal of a high school. His father was persecuted of crimes that he had never committed as a result of his career successes. "Being a high school principal is a powerful position in a place like Ciudad Juarez, they will try to crash you in anyway" (Rodriguez 15). Before this occurred to Rodriguez's father, his father had many internships to study schooling in America. Rodriguez's fathers reputation kept drowning, thus he finally gave up. His father was exhausted of the treatment he was receiving; therefore, he decided to leave for America with his family. Furthermore, Rodriguez's Father moved to America, because he believed that he could achieve the American dream. He felt his past experiences in Pennsylvania, California, and Minnesota were good for his family and himself.
             Luis J. Rodriguez early childhood in America was filled with bad memories. He had many issues with his brother. Worse, his brother almost killed him. He pushed Rodriguez off their shack like house roof and Rodriguez hit head ...