Should I Join a Gang

SHOULD I JOIN A GANG? — By Kirt McReynoldsWhat would make a teenager consider joining a gang when he already has everything he needs?Seventeen-year-old Joe feels alone. His parents barely communicate with him, and outside his home, his neighborhood is filled with gunshots, drugs, gangs, and violence. He starts wondering if joining a gang might finally give him the family, guidance, and belonging he feels he is missing.But then everything changes.When breaking news reveals that his friend Joe and eight other gang members have been gunned down, he is forced to confront the reality of the life he was considering.Suddenly, being tough doesn't seem so important.This powerful short story takes readers inside the mind of a teenager struggling with loneliness, peer pressure, and the temptation of gang life—and shows how one tragic event can change the course of a young person's future.Sometimes, seeing where someone else's choices lead can save your own life.SHOULD I JOIN A GANG?