When I was a young teen, 14 going on 15, I was welcomed into a program for young but salvageable misfits who were too bored for their own good and had a propensity for troublemaking.

Some college Psych professor in Zürich figured, if they put these young turds in a mentally challenging environment, as in put us in an accelerated college program, they wouldn't be so bored anymore and straighten out. Lo and behold, most of us actually did straighten out.

Fast forward to the future, I've known my lawyer, accountant, dentist and physician since I was 15. In fact, there's a whole network of us who still get in touch to support and benefit each other in a professional capacity.

We also contribute to the program that helped us become who we are today. My way of giving back is I welcome business and engineering intern candidates from the program under my wing to help them develop worth ethics and hone their skills.

Probably one of the best things that happened to me. It gave me a fighting chance, direction and ultimately found purpose within myself. I now serve the community that once helped me.