In this student diary, student Check details his history in the Ivory Coast, where he joined a gang as a preteen. Detailing his previous life and his immigration to the U.S., Check says, "Coming here from the Ivory Coast was just like a second chance that life had given to me ... I had the will to change and the opportunity to do it. I switched my mindset to someone without any goals in his life to a fighter who was determined to win."

Check dreams of being a businessman or lawyer and serving in the U.S. Marines. Check's story is one of several student video diaries from Newcomers High School. For more information, visit NotInOurSchool.org/Newcomers Less