The story of A.V2thuggin

building back

After everything I went through, I wasn’t sure I could trust anyone again. Sleeping felt impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, memories came rushing back—the fear, the pain, the helplessness. But little by little, I learned I could lean on people who cared, people who didn’t judge me. PJ, JTI, and JR weren’t just friends—they were my lifeline. We shared everything, our stories, our struggles, our dreams.

We started our podcast, Square One, to give others a voice like we had. Talking about the hard stuff didn’t make it go away, but it made it lighter. Music became more than therapy—it became power. Every song I wrote carried my pain, my heartache, my victories, and slowly, people started to listen.

Then came our garage band. We built it from nothing—just instruments, a tiny practice space, and a lot of heart. Our music spread, and suddenly, we weren’t just kids in a neighborhood—we were a community. People who had felt outcast or unheard started finding us. They found hope, and we found our purpose.

Every year, we have a night just for us—our friends, our family of outcasts. No fake people, no judgment, just people who understand. It’s a celebration of surviving, of fighting, and of finding your place in the world, even when it feels impossible.

Through all the pain, the loss, and the mistakes, I’ve realized something: life isn’t about avoiding the darkness—it’s about creating your own light. And that’s what I’m doing, one song, one story, one moment at a time.