Opinion: “If You Can Do It Bruv, I Can Do It”
[Opinion column written by Eron Hill]
As a result of running away from home at the age of 15 I found myself being sent abroad to Utah, to a vocational boarding school.
Although it’s called a boarding school, it can be likened to that of a juvenile detention center.
There were locks and alarms on the doors, you had every second of your day scheduled for you.
I found myself 1,500 miles away from Bermuda. I didn’t know anyone and quite frankly I was scared.
There I first met Tom, a Brazilian who had lived in England with his adopted parents. We were the only British kids at this facility.
Tom had been there for three years already when I arrived, he felt as if his parents had dropped him into Utah to leave him. This obviously had quite the impact on a 16 year old. After being there for three years he had seemingly lost hope and was just going with the flow.
Tom and I often found ourselves getting into trouble, fights, and rebelling from the program. Looking back on it, we were simply two young men crying out for help.
After two years in Utah with Tom he became my best friend. We often talked about him not knowing his biological family and the impact on him. He told me one day that I was like his brother, and quite frankly I agreed with him.
You gain control of your life the day you decide you want something that nobody can stop you from getting except yourself. I had decided that I no longer wanted to be in trouble. I did not change, I simply stopped pretending to be what I wasn’t.
We supported each other as we worked hard on our behavior and our school work. I left Utah having graduated high school with a 3.58 GPA with university classes under my belt at age 16.
Leaving Tom in Utah, I can’t imagine how painful that must have been for him to have me arrive 3 years after him and leave before him. We always discussed how we were going to get our lives together and be something great one day.
Last week I was in London when I get a call from Tom. He had seen on Facebook that I was here and he wanted to meet up. I can’t explain how excited to see my brother again. We sat and talked for hours about how life has changed and the he’s still working on himself.
He looked me in my eyes weeping as we reminisced on our days in Utah. He had seen me at my worst and now seeing me at my best. This was a huge motivation for him. He words “If you can do it bruv, I can do it”. He is proud of my life decisions and wished me the best.
It was in that moment that I shed a tear realizing that no time, space or circumstances can break a true friendship. Love you Tom, my brother for life!
I share this story because fellow Bermudian young men must know that we have enormous potential. We can use our downfalls and lessons to help others make it; we can turn our tests into a testimonies; and our trials into triumphs!
If we only work with each other instead of fighting against each other we would be a great force to reckon with. We have got to stop tearing each other down like crabs in a bucket, and build each other up!
-Eron Hill, a former member of Bermuda’s Youth Parliament, is currently a legal understudy pursuing his law degree.
What a great testimony! Wishing you all the best; wishing your brother/friend all the best too.
Great column Eron! You are someone inspirational and will leave Bermuda a much better place than you found it. We all go through trials and tribulations but it’s the lesson that we all must find.
Thanks for sharing.
Nicely done. Unfortunately the USA and Jamaican gangstar lifestyle has loured many of our youth and has come up trumps..
Heartbreaking yet beautiful story. Thank you for sharing & continue to be the gift you are ..
Like the story and the reconnect.
I went to hell and back, and am grateful for it.
From what I’ve discovered. All people have to battle through life, even those you think have had it easy.
This message needs to be shared over and over. More importantly we have act upon it. Thanks for sharing.
Positive messages like this are a far better use of your time and ours then the negative (and now I think manipulated) political statements of your previous articles.
Keep on the path of positivity and you will go much further in life.
This is the best article I’ve read written by you Eron. It truly is motivational / inspiration not only to myself but I’m sure, to many others…Stay focused upon the real meaning of, “peace and love”.
I hope you have these same sentiments towards him when he becomes a noted politician for the party you hate.
Stay focused upon the real meaning of, “peace and love”.
Very subliminal
My, my, my what difference in this response from “Kunta”…it almost appears he / she has a semblance of intelligence
Frightening!
Sorry but you know nothing about peace and love.
LOL
What a Great story well done and may God guide you through your studies. Let us know how you are doing. This is what is needed for our young people send them to Utah. I know someone who went there and they are now doing very good studying to be a professional physiologies’ doing there masters now. God is good if you want something you must go for it yourself nothing is given to you.
big up yourself Eron. Truly inspiring young man. Keep on keeping on buddy
wow. Touching story mate. Keep being a positive voice and inspiration to all
I agree! You are normally very negitive. This was the best commentary I feel you have provided since you started to write. You surprised me this time, hiope you keep it up????
Simply amazing.
What a great story.
Good for you young man. This type of character building is all we really need. It can be done..it was not easy.
You have a bright future.
amazin story
Eron, you do us all proud here. You have the potential to be a good leader some day and hopefully change lives. God has given you a gift now you must do right by him and not allow yourself to be manipulated by people who try and use you for their own agenda, represent all the people. Be your own man Eron. Be the role model and change we’d like to see in all our young men.
Aaron,
Awesome testimony!!! I have always been amazed at your story and so very proud of you. You are such an inspiration and great example for young men.
You are going to become such an inspiring lawyer and great leader.
Continued favor on you.
Blessings Abound….