To that Light Bulb in East New York,

The one who thought survival was the only goal.
I see you.
Shining on that stoop wondering why Moochie never came back.
Walking to school with a chip on your shoulder and the heat separate from the clip.
Trying to make sense of abandonment while protecting a young mother who was starting to slip.
You should be proud.
Not just because you made it out, but because you never stopped believing that there was something more.
You didn’t know the vocabulary of faith, vision, or legacy.
But the flame was lit in you.
It flickered in the way you hustled, the way you watched, the way you listened.
You had the guts to dream out loud, even when your environment tried to silence you, the darkness tried to hide you.
And now?
Now you’re leading.
Now you’re writing about love, talking with integrity.
Now you’re turning life lessons into launchpads and pain into platforms.
Now you’re talking about truth and boldly advocating for transparently.
You don’t wear a mask to fit in anymore and you now build spaces where others can take theirs off.
You’re not running from your past, you’re using it as proof of God’s grace and your grind.
So, if you ever feel unqualified, remember this:
Light bulb didn’t survive without a purpose.
He survived so the new you could SHINE… something no one thought possible.
And together… y’all are dangerous in a Godly way.
With love, pride, and purpose,

Shawn Tyrell