promising future, bitter past

Born and raised in a warm family home in East Side San Jose on a street named Nancy Lane, Salvador Rodriguez has had his fair share of life changing experiences. In his adult years he ended up getting in trouble with the law and even doing time in prison. However, everyone has a beginning, why don’t we take a look at his? 

Rodriguez grew up with 4 older siblings, 3 sisters and 1 brother as well as his mom in the house. Despite his mom being in the house, there were a lot of gaps to fill in his and his sibling’s lives that weren't provided by her. This led to Rodriguez and his siblings having to grow up independently and very fast.

When he wasn’t at home, Rodriguez remembers going to school and hating it even at a very young age. He began to act out and misbehave at roughly the age of six years old.

Rodriguez: “I hated it. Didn’t wanna do much, no homework, none of it. I would go and just mainly talk to people, be in class and not focusing just giggling, fooling around.”

Rodriguez opened up about the factors that might’ve gone into his behavior and what led him to act out at such a young age. He identified and even gave me a look at what his home life was like on a regular basis.

Daisy: Why do you think you started acting out?

Rodriguez: I would say not having like the right love from parents. The fact I don’t have a father and mother was like always at work, didn’t really have the full attention from the parents and I think that just led to getting in trouble–causing problems–to fill that gap y'know?

When he was about 14 years old, he had his first run in with the law. They didn’t get incarcerated, but Rodriguez remembers the thrill of the outing with his friends quickly turning sour when they realized what was happening.

Rodriguez: I was about 14 years old. I didn't get incarcerated, just police talking to parents. We were in a stolen vehicle, we were driving around as if it was ours and we got pulled over. They gave us just some small probation. I mean at first it’s just a thrill to have fun like when you know that it’s a serious problem like you’re actually doing something really big it’s like a shocker. My heart just dropped looking at the sirens and it was like ‘Oh crap I messed up.’

However, aside from getting in trouble with authorities, there were times when Rodriguez would get in trouble with individuals around him in the same lifestyle. His life was put at risk with these encounters, and often came when he least expected.

Rodriguez: Actually right here in front of the apartments where we live. We’re just hanging out. It was just some friends we were talking. A pickup truck actually pulls up and I mean you would think it’s a pickup truck so you didn’t think nothing of it, but some guy gets off and he’s walking, he had his face covered and he just yells something and he just aims a gun at us and we all start running. Hear the gun pop behind me and I was just running for my life just ran home. 

His behavior didn’t go unnoticed however, his family had certain feelings about his behavior, some of their concerns more involved than others.

Rodriguez: Mother was always mad. She would just yell at me and I mean it was like it would go in through one ear–through other, but my sisters were more caring about it y’know? The things you are doing they’re not good but we still love you about it y’know?

Rodriguez had a lot of time to think back on his childhood and teen years. He recognizes that his behavior and carefree attitude was something that he needed to work on even now. His old habits still peak through to remind him of the kid he used to be, but doesn’t have nearly as much of a hold on him as it did back then. 

The morning after this interview was taken, my mother and I took Rodriguez to jail so he could turn himself in and serve the time he owed instead of continuing to fight a court case. After his time is served, he’ll be completely free from having court after court days. He wasn’t ashamed of it, in fact he told us confidently that he’d see us in 35 days. It was a bittersweet moment to see him leave the car and ask us politely for no hugs because of how emotional he’d get.

Salvador Rodriguez is a kind hearted uncle, father, son and brother. His past might not be the cleanest, but that doesn’t keep him from looking forward to the future and thanking god for every day he gets to wake up and greet the day.

Rodriguez: It was just a couple times I’ve bumped into trouble or just things that you bring upon yourself and I mean I could’ve died in that second but God or someone higher than me taking care of me who knows but yeah.