Vanity Sua
Vanity
-I was raised by my grandparents who gave me nothing but unconditional love growing up. I was a good kid in elementary and always went to school and didn’t get into any trouble. When I got to Intermediate school I started hanging around with kids that smoked, drank, did drugs, ditched school and ran away from home. I wanted the freedom and fun it looked like they were having, so eventually I started doing the same things too. I ran away from home, ditched school, smoked cigarettes, drank and did drugs all starting at the age of 12. Eventually, the state family court got involved and put me on probation. I was arrested numerous times for truancy and running away from home, so they threw me in to Detention Home every single time for not complying with my probation. Why would I want to comply? I was just a kid having fun. The last time I went into Detention Home, they decided not to release me back to my family and sent me to live with my Uncle in Utah.
I did really good in Utah for 2 years and was able to move back to Hawaii when I was 16. When I came back, I got in touch with old friends and started back where I left off and everything went worse than what it was before I left. I was addicted to drugs and living a life of addiction and crime. Eventually I caught my first felony charge at the age of 24 and went to OCCC for the first time. Then 6 more times again after that. I couldn’t stop living the life that I was living even if I wanted to. So in April 2020, my blessing in disguise came to save me. I picked up a Federal charge and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. I went to all the classes and programs the prison had to offer so I could better myself and it really helped with the way I used to think. I started to make better choices and had a clear drug free mind. I wanted more for myself and a better life.
In February 2020, I was released from prison and was having lunch with Maribel. She offered me a job here at Next Step in the office and to be honest, I was excited and at the same time very nervous, because I’ve never had a job in my life and this would be my first one. All I could think to myself was “Wow, GOD loves me and he wants to give me something better than what I had, all I had to do was leave my old life behind”…I don’t know any other people in my situation that have opportunities like mine, so I know I am truly blessed. I wasn’t going to quit, because that’s not how you grow. You grow when you stick it out and embrace your challenges.
I’ve been working here for over 7 months now and I know so much more than I did when I first started and it just amazes me. I know how to do estimates, write proposals and I learned tons of computer skills. Sometimes we have company barbecues where we all get to hang out with each other and just have fun. Our bosses are always here for us and love helping and watching us grow. We’re a family here and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In summary
Vanity Sua was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months for armed car jacking, refusing to stop a motor vehicle in the 1st (In other words high speed chase), forgery with counterfeit money, etc. These are only the things she was caught doing, but has had a long list of things that she did regarding general violence and things of that nature, not to mention just being on the wrong side of the law for a very long time and a history of violence with anyone who crossed her path the wrong way. She was definitely a force not to be reckoned with. Since being released she has been part of the Next Step Integration program and one of the newest office team member. As a Next Step Roofing & Contracting employee Vanity has demonstrated loyalty, restraint, dedication perseverance and desire to succeed at a level many “normal” people never reach. We believe this is in part due to the confidence she has in that she is loved and respected at Next Step and it allows her to accept criticism in a positive light. She also receives guidance from people who have been in her shoes, who work with her daily. But we still have the inside of making sure she doesn’t have a knife or a gun if you are going to provide constructive criticism. We are proud to have someone like Vanity in our program and being part of the team.